bridge design - zinszer physics

BY LAURA ZINSZER DHS 2016

ADAPTED FROM WABASH BRIDGE DESIGN BY TODD WILSON, B.S., E.I.T.

TRAFFIC ENGINEER - DMJM HARRIS

Bridge Design

In 1904, the

Wabash Bridge

opened to carry

the Wabash-

Pittsburg Terminal

Railroad over the

Monongahela

River.

In 1948, the

bridge was

removed. The

piers still

remain. What

would it take

to rebuild the

bridge to cross this river?

Definitions

• Girder - a long, narrow, supporting beam

that extends the length of the bridge.

• Abutment - support at beginning or end of

bridge integrated with the ground.

Span - the bridge deck between the two

supporting piers or abutments.

• Pier - intermediate support between the two

abutments under the span of the bridge.

Classification of Form – Deck Truss

Deck Truss has the truss BELOW the

deck of the bridge.

Classification of Form – Pony Truss

Pony Truss has the truss along the side

of the deck of the bridge.

Classification of Form – Through Truss

A Through

Truss has the

truss on the

sides and

above the deck

so the traffic

travels through

the truss on the

bridge.

Parts of a Truss Bridge

Please use

this diagram

to identify the

parts of the

truss bridge

on your

reference

page.