1. BRIDGING THE GAPLisa-Jayne Heading
For this practical we will be researching,
building and testing a range of designs of
bridges. Bridges are a very important in
modern society; we use them to go over
rivers, valleys and get anywhere with more
convenience. Bridges have been around
since the simplest of bridges like a fallen
log over a creek. It was only when the
romans started building bridges from
stone is when they became a part of
civilized society.
The Arch Bridge
Arch bridges are one of the oldest types of bridges,
have been around for thousands of years and have
great natural strength. An arch bridge uses a
curved, semi-circular structure for support. They
are are one of the most stable bridges and one of
the most used because they’re very attractive and
grand however, the construction of an arch bridge
can be fairly difficult since the structure is
completely unstable until the two spans meet in
the middle. They were originally built of stone or
brick,as seen in the picture below of the ‘Pond De
Gard’, but these days are built for reinforced
concrete or steel and due to the introduction of these new materials arch
bridges could be built over longer
distances.
Brooklyn Bridge
Pond De Gard (south of
France)
Example of a stone Arch
Bridge built by the romans
over two thousand years ago