The document discusses different types of bridges including beam, arch, suspension, cable stay, and truss bridges. It provides details on the strengths and weaknesses of each type. It also describes several famous bridges from around the world such as the Sydney Harbor Bridge, Alcántara Bridge, Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge, Millau Viaduct, Manchac Swamp Bridge, and Chain of Rocks Bridge.

1. BRIDGES UNIT

3. TYPES OF
BRIDGES
 Draw this chart
in your Bridges
Packet

4.  Beam bridges are the oldest and simplest bridge design
consisting of vertical piers and horizontal beams. - e.g. just a
simple plank or stone slab. They are suitable only for short
spans but can used for larger crossings by adding
additional piers.
 Strengths: simple to build and not expensive
 Weaknesses: become weak when longer
BEAM BRIDGES

5.  Arch bridges were built by the Romans and have been in use
ever since. They are often chosen for their strength and
appearance. The forces created by the load are transferred
down through the arch into the ground.
 Strengths: they are very strong and can be built from many
materials
Weaknesses: cannot be very long
ARCH BRIDGES

6.  Suspension bridges are made by a pair of main suspension
cables stretching over two towers. They are attached at each
end to an anchor buried deep in the ground. Smaller vertical
suspender cables are attached to the main cables to support
the deck below.
 Strengths: strong and can span long distances
Weaknesses: expensive and complex to build
SUSPENSION BRIDGES

7.  Cable Stay Bridges also have towers supporting cables that
are attached to be main deck of the bridge. The cables carry
the load of the bridge to the towers and down to the ground.
 Strengths: good for medium distances and are more stiff
than the suspension bridge
 Weaknesses: more expensive
CABLE STAY BRIDGES

8.  Truss Bridges are structures built up mainly on triangles
because of their rigidity. They are very strong and can support
heavy loads.
 Strengths: They are very strong and use materials wisely
Weaknesses: More difficult to build
TRUSS BRIDGES

9. FAMOUS BRIDGES
Sydney Harbor Bridge
is one of Australia’s
most well known and
photographed
landmarks. It is the
world’s largest (but
not the longest) steel
arch bridge with the
top of the bridge
standing 134 meters
(440 feet) above
Sydney Harbor. It
took eight years to
build and opened in
March 1932.

10. FAMOUS BRIDGES
Crossing the Tagus
River at Alcántara in
Spain, the Alcántara
Bridge is a
masterpiece of
ancient Roman bridge
building. The bridge
was built between
104 and 106 by an
order of the Roman
Emperor Trajan in 98
AD, who is honored by
a triumphal arch in
the center of the
bridge and a small
temple at one end.

11. FAMOUS BRIDGES
The Akashi-Kaikyo
Bridge, also known as
the Pearl Bridge, is the
longest suspension
bridge at 1,991
meters (6,532 feet) in
the world. It spans the
Akashi Strait in Japan
connecting Kobe on
the mainland and
Iwaya on Awayi Island.
The bridge took almost
12 years to build and
was opened for traffic
in 1998.

12. FAMOUS BRIDGES
The Golden Gate Bridge is
a suspension bridge
spanning the Golden
Gate, the strait between
San Francisco and Marin
County to the north. The
bridge took seven years
to build, and was
completed in 1937.The
famous red-orange color
of the bridge was
specifically chosen to
make the bridge more
easily visible through the
thick fog that frequently
shrouds the bridge.

13. FAMOUS BRIDGES
The Millau
Viaduct bridge is
a cable stay
bridge in Millau,
France. A cable
stay bridge is a
bridge that
consists of one or
more columns
(normally
referred to as
towers or pylons),
with cables
supporting the
bridge deck.

14. FAMOUS BRIDGES
The Manchac Swamp
Bridge is located in
Louisiana is the 7th
longest bridge in the
world which carries
Interstate 55 across the
swamps. The engineering
structure of this bridgeare
concrete trestles which
are two pillared. The total
length of the bridge is
22.80 miles The cost of
one single mile amounted
to $7 million.

15. FAMOUS BRIDGES
The Chain of Rocks Bridge
is a truss bridge that spans
the Mississippi River on the
north edge of St. Louis,
Missouri. The eastern end
of the bridge is on
Chouteau Island (part of
Madison, Illinois), while the
western end is on the
Missouri shoreline. The
bridge was privately built
as a toll bridge in 1929.