Dijlah University College

Civil Engineering department

Bridge Engineering
4th Stage ( Morning (A))

report title :
( Types of bridges )

Prepared by :
Zahraa Waleed Abdul Latif
Mustafa Faiz Fadhil
Supervised by dr. :
Murtadha N. Sadeq
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Bridge Engineering
Historical Overview :
No one knows how bridges were built, but it is known that the first
bridge was built by stacking tree trunks to cross valleys and deep places .

The oldest bridges known to man were built 4000 years ago by the
Babylonians and ancient Egyptians, and there are bridges still standing
in China, Mexico and the Middle East that were built 2000 years ago .

Arc Bridges :

This type of bridge was built by the Romans and others in the Middle
Ages .

Wooden Bridges :

The first type of wooden bridges appeared in the sixteenth century

when a person called Pallodio built a truss bridge of wood with spans
extending up to 30.5 meters. In 1450 , types of wooden bridges were
found with spans extending up to 160 meters .

In the nineteenth century, these types spread in Russia and the United
States .

Steel Bridges :

The first steel bridge was built in Russia in 1745 , but the actual
transition from wooden bridges to steel bridges was in 1840.

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Suspension bridges :
The first suspension bridge was built in the United States of America in
1769 and in the first quarter of the nineteenth century the construction
of this type spread in 1825. The use of wire bundles was introduced in
the construction of the bridge, which was designed and built on the
Omayo River with a sea of 308 meters .

Concrete bridges :

The Romans used natural cement in the construction of arches, then its
use disappeared for centuries, and the reason for its use was not known
in Ab and then A around 1750 , then in the middle of the eighteenth
and nineteenth centuries, cement was used until this day .

In the second half of the nineteenth century, concrete appeared as a

construction material .

Definition of a bridge :It is an industrial facility that we need to cross

an obstacle .This obstacle is natural, such as valleys, rivers, lakes, etc.,
or industrial if it is like roads, railways, oil pipelines, etc.

Components of Bridge Structures

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Types of Bridges:
Bridges are classified on different bases, the most important of which
are:

First: According to the type of material used in building the bridge:

It include:

1-Timber Bridges

One of the most important factors that govern the construction of bridges
is the (span) and wooden bridges are considered to have short spans, in
addition to their low durability because rodents attack them.

2-Masonry or stone bridges

With short spans, their durability is good.

3-Reinforced concrete bridges (R.C Bridges)

It is relatively new , about 140 years and its durability is excellent,

crossing spaces of up to 50 meter.

4-Prestressed concrete bridges (P.C Bridges)

It was a very wonderful boom in the bridge industry in the world, due to
their excellent durability, and they cross spaces up to 200 Meters. They
are modern Relatively about 70 years before.

5-Steel Bridges
It is with a long spaces up to 2000 meter. Their durability is excellent if
they are protected against rust and fatigue.

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Second: Based on the geometric shape of the bridge :

It includes:

1- Straight Bridge:

A straight bridge is defined as a bridge in which

the longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the axis
that passes through the supports. It is easy to
design and construct. Therefore, it is the most
economical, simplest and most widely used type
of bridge.

2- Skewed Bridge :

When a bridge is built over an obstacle such as

rivers, roads, and valleys, and the longitudinal
axis is not perpendicular to the axis passing
through the center of the supports, in this case it
is known as a skewed bridge .The angle between
the axes of the supports and the perpendicular to
the free ends of the bridge is known as the angle
of deviation (ɸ),and this angle is very influential
if its value is greater than 20° .

3-Curved Bridge :

In it, the longitudinal axis of the bridge is curved

or not straight.

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Third: Based on the location of the carriageway:

Including:

1-Deck Bridge

In which the floor is above and the pillars are below.

2- Through Bridge

In which the floor is below and the pillars are above.

3- Half Through Bridge

In which the pillars are above and below.

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Fourth: Based on the type of bridge support:

Includes:

1- Simple support bridge:

2-Continuous bridge:

Any bridge consists of two main parts:

1-Upper structure:

It is the upper parts that include the floor including the longitudinal,
transverse and longitudinal spans, services and lighting.

2-Understructure:

It includes the basics of the bridge, either piles, caissons or supports, and
the supports are either central or peripheral,The peripheral ones include
the winged walls. The method of connecting the upper parts to the lower
parts is called the bridge support method.

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Fifth: Based on the load transfer mechanism:

Includes:

1- Arch bridges:
In which the loads are transferred through pressure only in the bridge
material, called (Rib force).

2- Bridges Beams: Loads are transferred through shear and bending.

This type of bridge has different names, including :

A) Concrete slab bridge :

B) Steel plate girder bridge:

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3- box girder bridge :

4- T- beam Bridge (Deck Bridge) :

5- Cable bridge :

In it, loads are transferred only by tension in the main cable. (Cable(

It includes two types:

A) Suspension bridges :
They are characterized by very long spans. The longest suspension
bridge in the world is the Akashi Cable Bridge in Japan, which is
3700 m long .We find that the fixing or end connection is either self-tie
or externally tied .

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Suspension bridges: They are flexible bridges in which the shape of the
cable changes during the passage of movement. As a result of this
change, this type of bridge is analyzed in a special analysis (dynamic
and static).

B) Cable-supported bridges :

In it, loads are also transmitted by tension, which is similar to

Suspension bridges. The difference between it and the suspension is

that in the suspension, the cable is on the sides of the bridge, while
in the cables it is in the middle of the bridge .

One of the differences is that the suspension is in a tower such as

a frame, while in the cables it is suspended from a mast .

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6) Suspension bridges :

In them , loads are transmitted by axial forces, tension or pressure.

Example on suspension bridge

The new Al-Zubair navigational bridge that crosses the Shatt al-Basra,
is one of the largest strategic projects in Basra.

 Project Details:

Bridge Type: Suspension with navigation opening.

Total Length: About 1350 meters.

Bridge Width: About 20 meters.

Navigation opening: About 140 meters to allow ships to pass.

 Implementing agencies:

Implementation by Al-Nargis Company (Iraqi company) in cooperation

with the Italian consultant.

Part of the road development project linking Al-Zubair and the

southern ports.

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 Economic importance:

1. This bridge reduces the time between Zubair and Khor Zubair
from 45 minutes to 15 minutes.
2. Supports commercial and oil transport.
3. Contributes to supporting investment projects in the region.

 Major Challenges:

Clay soil deposited at the bottom of the Shatt al-Basra River.

The need to design the bridge to suit river navigation and ship height.

Application of advanced specifications to withstand heavy loads and

earthquakes.

 Implementation stages:

1. Establishing underwater concrete pillars.

[Link] the main cable-bearing towers (as shown in the pictures).

3. Installing the suspended iron cables.

[Link] the navigational opening and preparing the bridge deck.

5. Finishing works (lighting - asphalt - sidewalks - protection).

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A model of a suspension bridge designed by Zahraa Waleed

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