Bridge Background Information

1
Bridge Background Information

• Build-a-Bridge Project

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Project

• You and a partner will be asked to design,
  construct and test a bridge
• This is a summative project
• Take notes on the following information to help
  you design a good bridge!

3
Basic Terms you need to Know

• Span distance bridge has to cross
• Tension a force that acts to lengthen or expand
  an object
• Compression a force that acts to shorten an
  object

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Tension and Compression

• A bridge needs to balance these forces

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Parts of a BridgeLoad Point

• This is the point of the bridge where the weight
  is going to be loaded
• Your bridge design needs to center around this
  point

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Load Point
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Types of Bridges

• Beam Bridge
• Beams with Trusses
• Arch Bridge
• Suspension Bridge

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Beam Bridges

• Simplest kind of bridge
• Used to span short distances
• Needs to be stiff

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Beam Bridges

• Span can be increased by adding trusses

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Truss Design

• A truss is a triangular shape
• The truss design can affect the load a bridge can
  bear
• Different designs different results

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Warren Truss
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Pratt Truss
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Howe Truss
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K Truss
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Arch Bridge

• Always under compression
• Tension is small
• The force of the compression pushes outward along
  the curve of the arch to the abutments