Building Bridges: Exploring the World of Beam Bridges

Exploring Beam Bridges

Discover the world of beam bridges and their construction, design, and functionality.

Beam Bridges Basics:

• the oldest known bridges

• consist of vertical supports called piers that hold up a horizontal beam.

• The strength of the roadway determines the number of piers needed.

• can be long, but the span between piers is small

Advantages of Beam Bridges:

• a simple design which makes them easy to build.

• have a long span length

• require fewer piers compared to other bridge types

• a cost-effective and efficient choice for crossing rivers and valleys

Multiple Select

What are advantages of beam bridges? Choose all that apply.

• Simple design

• Easy to build

• Long span length

• Fewer piers needed

Disadvantages of Beam Bridges:

• large ships or heavy boat traffic cannot pass underneath;

• design generally not considered interesting or eye-catching

Multiple Select

What is a disadvantage of beam bridges? Check all that apply.

• Limited span

• Large ships or heavy boat traffic cannot pass underneath

• Design generally not considered very interesting or eye-catching

• Easy to build; inexpensive relative to other bridge types; used widely in urban and rural settings

Forces at Play: Compression

• Compression squeezes parts of bridge together

• Caused as live loads, such as cars and trucks, travel across.

• The top and piers in the bridge are compressed

Forces at Play: Tension

• tension is when forces try to pull apart a material

• the top of the roadway experiences a tension force.

• It is crucial for the bridge's stability and load-bearing capacity.

Multiple Select

What type of force acts on the top of the roadway in a beam bridge? Choose all that apply.

• Compression force

• Tension force

• Shear force

• Bending force

Beam Bridges Summary:

• A beam bridge is a type of bridge that has a horizontal platform that is supported by vertical piers

• beams of a beam bridge are typically made of steel, concrete, or wood.

• Beam bridges are commonly used for short to medium spans, ranging from a few meters to a few hundred meters.

Beam Bridges Summary:

• They are cost-effective and relatively easy to construct.

• Beam bridges can be found all over the world, including the famous Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in Louisiana, which is the longest beam bridge in the world.

Multiple Select

What material are the beams of a beam bridge typically made of? Check all that apply

• Steel

• Concrete

• Wood

• Aluminum