A bridge is a structure that is used to cross an obstacle such as a river, a channel, a valley or a highway. The simplest kind of bridge is a tree trunk that has fallen across a stream or a set of twisted ropes and bamboo poles suspended (hanging) over a river. The latter is an example of early suspension bridges. Such bridges are still used in remote areas of many parts of the world like Asia, Africa and South America. The modern, strong, sophisticated suspension bridges are the result of the
The question of the century is what is a bridge? According to Google’s definition, it is “a structure carrying a road, path, railroad, or canal across a river, ravine, road, railroad, or other obstacle.” Looking further, it provides passage over obstacles such as valleys, rough terrain or bodies of water by spanning those obstacles with manmade materials. Another question is when did bridges erupt? It is said that the first bridges were believed to be made by nature itself. An example would be
behind building a bridge we need find out the different types of a bridges. The definition of a bridge is a structure carrying a road, path, or railroad across a geographic obstacle. There are three different types of bridges. They are: beam/arch bridges, suspension bridges, and truss bridges. Modern beam bridges usually span up to 200 feet, modern arch bridges can span across 800-1,000 feet, while Suspension bridges can span from 2,000-7,000 feet ("HowStuffWorks"). Arch bridges are very efficient
Bridges were invented in order to get from place to place even over physical obstacles such as water; the idea of a bridge was in fact inspired by nature. A fallen log, piles of stone and dirt, any of these were the perfect form of a natural bridge and were used before a technical “bridge” was invented. The first bridges made by humans were made of cut wooden logs or planks and eventually stones, using simple support systems and cross-beam arrangements. The greatest bridge builders were the ancient
invented bridges to cross small distance over simple obstacle such as a pond, they used a simple logs or two vines and put it over the distance they wanted to cross. However, today bridges are much more complex. Todays bridges are made of stone, wood, steel, and reinforced concrete. Metals such as aluminum, titanium. Using these material, our modern brides are much more durable than the ones made in the past. Today, bridges are used similarly, but the only difference is that we now make bridges to make
them, his solution was: Pick up the road and carry it across. Many suspension bridges are already well known for their frequent usage. For example, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the Union Bridge connecting England to Scotland, and the Brooklyn Bridge, which expands New York City to surrounding islands. Now, according to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, a suspension bridge is “a bridge having the roadway suspended from cables that are anchored at either
There are many advantages to using a suspension bridge over other types of bridges. They are very economic in the fact that suspension bridges are very long in proportion to the amount of materials needed to make a suspension bridge. Suspension bridges are usually made up of only a minimum number of materials to be made. Considering the bridges only need limited materials and are fairly cheap, they take a long time to make however. They are incredibly versatile considering they can be build virtually
Capilano Suspension Bridge The Capilano Suspension Bridge was built in 1889 across the Capilano River by a Scottish engineer named George Grant Mackay in the city of Vancouver. The bridge was initially constructed from hemp ropes and cedar planks, which were later replaced with more durable steel cables in 1903. Over time, the bridge has exchanged ownership several times and has undergone a series of renovations. This is a paper on the Capilano Bridge. Special focus is given to its history, construction
Suspension Bridge: The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge Location of the Bridge The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, or ‘Pearl Bridge’, is built across the Akashi Strait in west-central Japan. This massive structure connects the city of Kōbe- situated on the main island of Honshu- to Iwaya on Awaji Island. The project began in May, 1988, and was opened to the public in April, 1998- almost a decade following the beginning of construction. Size and Mass This bridge is approximately 3,911 metres in total length, with a width
Bridges are an extremely important part of our lives. Many people use bridges as a part of their daily lives, to go to work, to school, their house, or even just to go to the grocery store. Over 120,000 vehicles and almost 7,000 people cross the Brooklyn Bridge daily. It’s important that these bridges we use are structurally sound and safe to travel on. Some of the main types of bridges that we use are arch bridges, beam bridges, truss bridges, and suspension bridges. Depending on the different needs
Description of an Object Essay: Poochie The most important “object” to me is actually a living thing, my dog Poochie. He is a very big part of my childhood because I got him when I was only six years old. He was only one year old at the time, and today he is like twelve or something like that. Poochie was an early Christmas present for my brother and I. My parents had a very special way of giving this dog to us during the holidays that I will get to later. But, anyways, we do not actually know
For centuries, humans has excavated tunnels in the earth for a myriad of uses. Engineering is an incredibly beautiful field, but at the same time it can be dangerous and threat the life of many people. In October 21st 1994, the tunnel under Heathrow airport failed causing delays of other works for the Heathrow Express Rail Link and for the Jubilee Line extension project on which the same tunnelling method was used as well as the cancellation of hundreds of flights in Britain's busiest airport. The
The Tower Bridge, completed in 1894, is a combined suspension-bascule-draw bridge that spans the Thames River of London, England. Breaking ground in 1884, the bridge strongly embodies Victorian art design, with classical British influences and aspects of the Christian Church. The bridge has since become a symbol of London and the nation itself, being a famous tourist destination for those visiting the United Kingdom, whilst standing as a persona of the massive leap in bridge design and engineering
History of Bridge Throughout history there have been numerous instances in which bridges have failed after years of service or even during the construction stage. Failure can be defined as not performing the intended function. This may mean a collapse or something less severe such as a long, straight span that causes drivers to fall asleep. In each of these cases, engineers learned something new about the analysis process or the materials. Throughout history, a catastrophic bridge failure has occurred
my face. Standing before me was the famous Lynn Valley Suspension Bridge. I leaned over the bridge. There were two little specks on top of a cliff. They took a big jump off the the cliff, cannonballing into the deeper part of the river. I looked forward again towards the bridge. It was long and had wooden planks, one in front of the other and ropes on either side intertwining together. I inhaled a deep breath and took a step onto the bridge before I could changed my mind. It creaked. Don’t look
Reading an American Identity in Niagara Falls Occupying the centre of a vast array of paintings, postcards, books and plays, Niagara Falls has become a national icon. Since American independence, Niagara Falls has “assumed nationalistic meaning as the search for cultural/national symbols fixed on nature for America’s identity” (Irwin, xiv). Those select few who had the opportunity to view the falls in the eighteenth century pointed to its majestic beauty and transcendental nature as proof
A bridge is a structure carrying a pathway, roadway or railway across the river, valley or any obstacle. The purpose is to connect two places. The 6 most common types of bridges in the world include : • Beam Bridges • Arch Bridges • Suspension Bridges • Cantilever Bridges • Truss Bridges • Cable-Stayed Bridges The designs of the bridges depend on the type of terrain they are built, the material used to construct it and the financial resources available for it. The oldest stone standing bridge in
The Brooklyn Bridge is a world-famous spectacle that is regarded by some as “the nineteenth century’s most important and defining work of engineering, and, equally, the world’s most famous and beloved span” (Haw, 3). In his book The Brooklyn Bridge: A Cultural History, Richard Haw writes about the two relatively distinct identities that the Brooklyn Bridge inhabits, and in turn, how imagination and perception have affected its admiration. Haw describes the bridge by saying, “As [it’s] physical construction
In the past, civil engineers were focusing on design and construction of new facilities, such as buildings, bridges and highways, water treatment and environmental facilities, foundations and tunnels. Today's civil engineer not only has to design new facilities but must also analyze the effects of deterioration on infrastructure elements, consider system interdependencies and evaluate life-cycle impacts while also considering environmental and economic sustainability within the context of society
In the late winter of 2005, the city of Seattle faced an urgent problem. The Alaskan Way Viaduct, an inner city elevated highway which carried over one hundred thousand cars and trucks every day, was beginning to show signs of structural failure. The 2001 Nisqually earthquake had put visible cracks into its concrete façade and it had started to sink further into the ground. On March 2, 2006, the Seattle Times ran a troubling editorial: “Shut Down the Viaduct,” read its headline. The article, written