BridgeIntro

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminar: 

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminar Alan Lutenegger and Susannah Howe 1 March 2003 1

What Are Bridges?: 

What Are Bridges? Simple Definition: “a structure spanning and providing passage over a river, chasm, road, or the like” (Random House Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, 2nd ed.)

(Short) History of Bridges: 

(Short) History of Bridges Pre-History Early Civilizations Classical Civilizations (Romans, Greeks, etc.) Middle Ages Renaissance Engineers Victorian Era Modern Era

Elements of Bridge Design: 

Elements of Bridge Design Materials Wood Stone Concrete Iron Steel Forms Arch Beam Suspension

Bridge Forms: 

Bridge Forms Arch Suspension Beam 2 3 4

Subsidiary Bridge Forms: 

Subsidiary Bridge Forms Cantilever (Beam) Cable-Stayed (Suspension) 6 5

Variations in Material: 

Variations in Material Stone Concrete Iron Steel 7 10 9 8

Variations in Design: 

Variations in Design 12 13 11

Variations in Style: 

Variations in Style 14 16 17 15

Some Local Examples: 

Some Local Examples Bridges are EVERYWHERE! All we have to do is look!!

Springfield Bridge: 

Springfield Bridge

Deerfield River Bridge: 

Deerfield River Bridge

Bardwell’s Ferry Bridge: 

Bardwell’s Ferry Bridge

French King Bridge: 

French King Bridge

Shelburne Falls Bridges: 

Shelburne Falls Bridges

Turner’s Falls Suspension Bridge: 

Turner’s Falls Suspension Bridge

Find a Bridge to Explore in Your Town: 

Find a Bridge to Explore in Your Town

Program Schedule: 

Program Schedule 9:00 – 9:30 Introduction 9:30 – 10:15 Fun with Form (Pile-It-On & Test-A-Member) 10:15 – 10:45 Truss Time: Build It 10:45 – 11:00 Break 11:00 – 12:15 Truss Time: Model It 12:15 – 12:30 Truss Time: Comparison 12:30 – 12:45 What’s Next? 12:45 – 1:00 Questions and Feedback

Photo Sources: 

Photo Sources 1. Garabit Viaduct (France) - http://www.structurae.de/en/structures/data/str00027.php 2. New River Gorge Bridge (WV) - http://www.wvepostcards.com/postcards/?picture=/pimages/nrgorge-f2.jpg 3. Golden Gate Bridge (CA) - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/wonder/structure/goldengate_bridge.html 4. Kocher Viaduct (Germany) - http://moment.mit.edu/imageLibrary/images/large_images/Fig43.JPG 5. Firth of Forth Bridge (Scotland) - http://www.structurae.de/en/structures/data/str00024.php 6. Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge (MA) - http://www.bigdig.com/thtml/f081401/img020.htm 7. Pont du Gard (France) - http://www.chch.school.nz/mbc/pontdu.htm 8. Iron Bridge (England) - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/wonder/structure/iron_bridge.html 9. Natchez Trace Parkway Arches (TN) - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/eihd/natchez.htm 10. Sydney Harbor Bridge (Australia) - http://www.izix.com/personal/travel/australia/images/SydneyHarborBridge.jpg 11. Sunshine Skyway Bridge (FL) - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bridge/meetcable.html 12. Ganter Bridge (Switzerland) - http://www.geocities.com/big_bridges1/ganter.html 13. Erasmus Bridge (The Netherlands) - http://www.xs4all.nl/~mosm/English/Rotterdam_us/erasmus2_us.html 14. George Washington Bridge (NY) - http://www.earthspeaks.com/tb/images/large/1114_76.jpg 15. Golden Gate Bridge (CA) - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/wonder/structure/goldengate_bridge.html 16. Verrazano Narrows Bridge (NY) - http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/bandt/html/veraz.htm 17. Brooklyn Bridge (NY) - http://www.endex.com/gf/buildings/bbridge/bbgallery/bb3/Dscn1553cx.jpg