Bridges have a long history, evolving from fallen logs to more advanced suspension bridges as rope technology improved. Civil engineers design modern bridges, applying their strong math and science backgrounds to withstand forces like tension, compression, shear, and torsion. The main types of bridges are beam, truss, arch, suspension, and cable-stay bridges, each utilizing tension and compression differently depending on their design and how loads move across them.

1. Bridges : History, Forces, & Types

2. History The first bridges consisted of fallen logs over rivers.

3. History The development of rope allowed people to build primitive suspension bridges. You can see examples of this type of bridge in many movies.

4. I guarantee you have all been on one

5. Isn’t this the same thing?

6. Who Designs them? A Civil Engineer is a person who designs bridges Civil Engineers must be strong in math and science to be able to properly design a bridge

7. Forces Tension : A force that tries to stretch material and pull it apart Compression : A force that tries to push or squeeze material together

8. More Forces Shear : A force that tries to make materials tear and slide by each other Torsion : A Force that tries to twist and bend materials

9. What happens when there is too much force on a bridge?

10. Beam Bridge Tension Compression

11. Truss Bridge Changes as the load moves across the bridge Tension Compression

12. Arch Bridge Tension Compression

13. Suspension Bridge Tension Compression

14. Cable-Stay Bridge Tension Compression

15. Review