Civil structures - Types of bridgesThere are 5 major types of bridges.

Beam - The beam type is the simplest type of bridge. The beam bridge could be anything as simple as a plank of wood to a complex structure. It is made of two or more supports which

hold up a beam.

Arch - In the arch type of bridge, weight is carried outward along two paths, curving toward the ground.

Suspension/Cable-stayed - The deck (trafficway) of a

suspension bridge is hung by cables which hang from towers. The cables transfer the weight to the towers, which transfer the weight to the ground.Cable-stayed bridges have towers, but cables from the towers go directly to the road deck, instead of spanning from tower to tower.

Cantilever - In the cantilever type of bridge, two beams support another beam, which is where the deck or trafficway is. The two beams must be anchored, and this must be done

well. (http://library.thinkquest.org/J002223/types/types.html)

Truss – metal in compression or tension positioned above or below the load on the bridge eg Iron Cove Bridge, Drummoyne, Sydney

Bridge examples

sSydney Harbour Bridge – Australia – 1926/31, Steel Arch, Mild Steel and Granite, Faster cross harbour travel than ferries, good for city economy growth

Rion-Antirion Bridge, Greece between Corinth and Peloppenese, 1998/04, Cable stay, Concrete pylons, steel cables, island to mainland bridge good for agriculture and tourism, 11000 vehicles each day.

Brooklyn Bridge, New York USA, 1870/83, Steel cable suspension, steel and granite, replace slow ferries, connect Brooklyn to NYC, 144 000 vehicles per day.

Coalbrookdale Bridge, Shropshire near Birmingham England, 1779/81, Steel arch, cast iron, granite, cross river Severn, local industries, Merrythought Teddy Bear Co.

Numata River Bridge, Japan, 2007, Suspension, Steel cable, airport to freeway link road

Millau Viaduct, France 2005, Steel Suspension, gorge travel, tourism between Paris and Mediterranean Ocean

PONTE Costa e Silva, Rio De Janero and Niteroi, Brazil, 1968/74, box girder steel and concrete, 140 000 vehicles daily

Askoy - Norway

Zoobrucke - Germany

Second Luzhou - China