Anatomy of A Bridge

Anatomy of A Bridge
Atin Sinha, Ph.D., P.E.
Albany State University
Atin Sinha, Ph.D., P.E.
Albany State University

Different Types of Bridges

Truss Bridge

Suspension Bridge

Cable Stayed Bridge

Truss Bridge

Truss Bridge

Suspension Bridge

Suspension Bridge

Cable Stayed Bridge

Cable Stayed Bridge

Loads Experienced by A Bridge

Static (Structural)
Variable (Vehicular Traffic, Pedestrian)
Environmental (Wind, Earthquake)

Forces that Act on Bridges

Tension
Compression
Torsion
Shear

Suspension vs. Cable Stayed

Common Trusses Used in

Engineering:
Warren

Pratt

Howe

K Truss

Red represents tension, blue represents compression,

and green is no load

Now examine the same Warren truss,

but with added vertical members

Model Bridge Building Steps

Learn the Rules of the Competition
Design the Bridge
Get the Supplies
Build the Bridge
Test the Bridge
Analyze the Failure
Improve Your Design

Southwest Georgia Regional Model Bridge

Building Contest
Design Specifications for the Model Bridge
Span

22 in.

Maximum Allowable Weight

28.3 g

Maximum Allowable Height (Overall)

10 in

Max Superstructure Height

6 in

Max Substructure Height

4 in

Minimum vertical clearance through the bridge

2 in

Minimum horizontal clearance through the bridge 2 in

No height restriction for Middle Schools

Design the Bridge

Center the design around the loading point

Provide extra bracing around the loading point

Choose a truss Warren, Pratt or design your own

Draw the bridge to scale on graph paper
Create a list of all the pieces
Cut the pieces to exact size
Label and weight every piece
Allow 10% weight for glue
If you exceed the weight limit, modify the design

Preparation for Building the Bridge

Get the wood
Hobby stores
Specialized Balsa.com
Pick out the good wood
Tools
Glue
Saw/Exacto knife
Gram scale
Clamps/clothespins
Foam Board (optional)
Workspace
Good lighting
Good ventilation

Build the Bridge

Tape the top and bottom beams to the design on

the graph paper
Glue the remaining pieces and cure overnight
holding firmly using pins.
After both trusses are completed, tape them to
two fixed boxes spaced correctly apart
Glue bracing on top and bottom
Make sure the bridge is not leaning on one side
Weigh the bridge and record including the specs

Test the Bridge

Test before competition if:

Testing equipment

You have time to build another bridge

You are only testing your bridge to a certain point
Bathroom scale (top loaded only)
Bucket and sand (top or bottom)

Testing procedure

Pour the sand slowly but steadily

Watch for deflection ( 2 is considered failure)

Evaluation of the Bridge

Efficiency = mass that bridge held divided by mass

of bridge

What failed (Broken member / joints unglued) ?

In order to win typically score need to be well above 250

Video taping
Careful examination of broken pieces

Improving

Design (Add a piece where it failed)

Construction (add notched joint / gusset plate)

Winners From the Past Years

Year

Bridge
Breaking
Weight (gm) Load (gm)

Structural
Efficiency

2003
2004
2005

28.1
25.6
22.8

10276
5789
10197

365.7
226.1
447

2006
2007
2008

17.5
23.7
28.1

9488
13253
11114

542
559
396

2009

22.7

5930

261