This document provides a classification of bridges based on various criteria such as material, alignment, location, purpose, superstructure type, flood hazard level, span, navigation facilities, loading, and lifespan. Some of the main bridge types discussed include slab bridges, girder bridges, truss bridges, suspension bridges, arch bridges, swing bridges, bascule bridges, and lift bridges. Bridges are also classified based on their span length from minor bridges to long span bridges. Temporary bridges discussed include pontoon, boat, and flying bridges while permanent bridges include RCC, masonry, and steel bridges.

1. Bhagwan Mahavir College of
Engineering and Technology
PRESENTATION
ON
CLASSIFICATION OF
BRIDGES

2. Prepared by : Ankit Gangani 140060106055

3. Classification of
Bridges
Based on material
As per alignment
As per location of bridges
Purpose
Acc. To type of super structure
Acc. To HFL
Acc. To type of span
Acc. To span length
Acc. To navigation facilities
Acc. To loading
Acc. Life of bridges

4. 1. Timber Bridge: 2. Stone
Masonry Bridge
SOURCE: GOOGLE IMAGES

5. 3.Rcc Bridge 4. Steel Bridge
SOURCE: GOOGLE IMAGES

6. 5. Prestressed concrete 6. Composite Bridge
Bridge
SOURCE: GOOGLE IMAGES
Pamban road bridge- tamilnadu

7. 1. Straight Alignment:
When the
alignment of bridge is
perpendicular to the
centre line of a river, it
is called straight bridge.
2. Skew Bridge:
When the
alignment of a bridge is
not perpendicular to the
centre line of river, is
called Skew Bridge.

8. 1.Deck Bridge:
When the bridge flooring is provided
at the top of the super structure, it is
called deck bridge.
SOURCE: WWW.CIVILDIGITAL.COM

9. 2. Through Bridge:
When the bridge
flooring is provided at
the bottom of the super
structure, it is called
Through Bridge.
3. Semi-Through Bridge:
When the flooring
is located at some
intermediate level in the
super structure, it is
called Semi-Through
Bridge.
Bayonne Bridge-new york
Chaotianmen Bridge -china

10. 1. Aquaduct:
It is small bridge constructed
over a stream which remains dry for most
part of the year is called aquaduct.
SOURCE: WWW.CIVILDIGITAL.COM

11. 2. Viaduct:
It is a long continuous
structure which carries a
road or railway like bridge
over dry valley composed of
a series of spans trestle
bents instead of solid piers.
3. Grade separator:
When two roads crosses
each other and there is
considerable differences in
their formation level, a
bridge structure is
constructed , which is known
as grade separator.
4. Highway Bridge:
It is constructed on a
roadway for the movement
of vehicles.
Panval Viaduct, India
Koyambedu
grade
separator,
Tamilnadu,
India.
Eastern
Peripheral
Expressway
India

12. 5. Railway Bridge
It is constructed for the railway.
6. Foot Bridge
A foot bridge is a bridge exclusively used
for carrying pedestrians, cycles and animals.
7. Pipe Bridge
It is used to support pipeline for water, gas,
oil, etc.

13. 1. Slab Bridge:
When the span of
bridge is 3 to 6m, slab
bridge is used, It is also
called culvert.
2. Girder bridge:
When the span of a
bridge is more, flooring
is supported on RCC or
steel girder. Such type
of bridge is called
girder bridge.

14. 3. Truss Bridge
When the flooring of a bridge is supported
over steel trusses it is called truss bridge.
Normally such type of bridges are used for
railways.
SOURCE: WWW.CIVILDIGITAL.COM

15. 4. Suspension Bridge:
Suspension bridges consists of sets of
cables hanging in a curve from which the
roadway is supported.
A flooring load is transferred suspenders
and cables to the piers.
Narmada bridge

16. 5. Arch Bridge:
In such type of bridge the weight of
flooring is transferred to the piers through the
arch. the floor beam is suspended trough
hangers from arch.
SOURCE: WWW.CIVILDIGITAL.COM

17. 1.Submersible bridge or
causeway:
A road causeway is a
pucca dip which allows
floods to pass over it. It may
or may not have openings or
vents for low water to flow.
2. Non-Submersible bridge:
In this types of bridge
formation level is kept above
the HFL, so that maximum
flood does not affect the
traffic on the bridge.

18. 1. Simply supported Bridge:
When the bridge girders are simply
supported on piers, it is known as simply
supported bridges.
2. Continuous Bridge:
When the super structure of a bridge is
continuous over more than two supports, it is
called continuous bridge.
SOURCE: GOOGLE IMAGES
Glenn L. Jackson Memorial Bridge,USA

19. 3. Cantilever bridge:
A cantilever bridge is formed of cantilevers
projecting from the supporting piers. The ends
of a cantilever bridges are treated as fixed.
4. Balanced cantilever bridge:
A balanced cantilever bridge consists of
spans simply supported over cantilever.
Forth Bridge,
United Kingdom, Edinburgh,

20. 1. Culvert - span up to 8m.
2. Minor bridge – span 8 to 30m.
3. Major bridge – span 30 to 120m.
4. Long span bridge – span above 120m.

21. 1. Swing bridge:
In case of swing bridge a central pier is
provided with suitable bearing or rollers. The
super structure consists of a pair of steel
trusses and it can be rotated in a horizontal
plan about vertical axis.
SOURCE: GOOGLE IMAGES
Lake Okeechobee
LAKE, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES

22. 2. Bascule bridge:
In case of bascule bridge, the entire
structure is rotated in a vertical plane about a
horizontal axis.
Lowestoft

23. 3. Traverser bridge:
In case of traverser bridge, it is so arranged
that the whole bridge can fully or partially be rolled
forward or backward across the openings.
4. Lift bridge:
In this type of bridge the truss is lifted up.
5. Transporter bridge:
In case of transporter bridge, a moving cage is
suspended from an overhead truss with the help of
cable or wire ropes.

24. 1. Temporary bridge:
a. pontoon bridge- KUMBH MELA
b. boat bridge : COLKATA-RABINDRANATH SETU
c. flying bridge- West India Quay
London, UK

25. 2. Permanent bridge:
a. RCC bridges
b. masonry bridges -Rajasthan
c. steel bridges : Surat tapti river

26. 1. Class AA bridge – Narmada cable bridge
2. Class A bridge
3. Class B bridge