Investigating Bridges

Types of bridges

Beam

Beam - The simplest type of bridge. It could just be two supports holding a plank of wood or it could be a 12 pillar bridge!

Beam Bridge

Suspension/Cable-stayed

Suspension/Cable-stayed – A bridge supported by pillars and cables. On the deck there are towers. Cables hang from those towers and are attached to the bridge. This also supports the bridge.

Suspension Bridge

Cable Stayed Bridge

Arch

Arch – A bridge where the weight is carried out on two curved paths forming an arch underneath the bridge.

Cantilever

Cantilever – A bridge where the pillars support planks which then support the actual bridge.

Wonderings

What is the longest bridge in the world? – How much did it cost to build? – Why was it built? – How much weight can it support? – How long is it?What is the longest bridge in Switzerland?What is the shortest bridge in the world?When was the first bridge built? – What is it called?

Connections

The Millau Viaduct is a cable stayed bridge.I have been on a TON of beam bridges and cable stayed bridges. All the bridges we have built have been beam bridgesThe golden gate bridge is a suspension bridge.

A-ha Moments

When we built bridges out of newspaper the group that held the most weight on their bridge used pillars underneath their bridge.When we watched the video of people building a bridge out of ropes made out of grass.When we researched the Millau Viaduct, it is the tallest bridge in the world (taller then the Eifel Tower)!!!!

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