30All About Bridges!

Name: Kyle Frantz

This packet is to be completed by each person during the course of the bridge
project. It is intended to be completed on days where you are waiting for glue to
dry or when only one partner is busy. It may be a collaboration of both partners, but
each partner must turn in their own packet. Most sections may be very similar to
your partners, but the sections on Bridge Records and Bridge Disasters must be
unique.
It might be a good idea to complete the sections on Glue Joints and Balsa Tips
before you get too far into your bridge design.

Types of Glue Joints:

Glue Joints are a very important part of building a balsa bridge. Complete the
following for each type of glue joint listed. A great resource is:
http://www.garrettsbridges.com/building/bridge-joints/

Joint Picture Pros Cons

Type

Can enable a
End Joint Relatively
joint to bend with
(Butt) weaksauce
compression
 Holds any pieces
connected
Lap Joint rigidly, proving Limited by the
(Overlap very helpful to strength of the
) prevent bending. face of the wood
The strongest
joint.

Weaker than
others like the
Notch Stronger than
lap joint and is
Joint the end joint
very hard to
construct

Fits in nicely to
Miter straight corners Weak
Joint or edges and can attachment point
add support
 Adds support
Absolutely
when you must
nothing, gussets
Gusset use an end joint
are life (JK; they
Joint and holds the
add weight and
same pros as a
bulk to the build)
lap joint

Balsa Tips:
Compile a list of at least 10 tips for working with balsa wood:

Use rice or silica packets in tandem within a closed container to reduce

1 weight.

Maintain a clean area to reduce error with glue joints (something we did not
2
do).

The more time you spend manipulating balsa wood, the easier bridge
3
building will become.

4 Use lateral braces to keep a bridge from twisting.

5 Cutting pieces in half stregthens compression by 2X.

6 Varying trusses will spread the weight load throughout the bridge.

7 Be aware of your surroundings with sharp objects.

 Videotape the bridge testing in order to make note of where the bridge failed
8
and improve upon the design.

9 Steaming or soaking balsa wood makes it easier to bend.

1
Pick the best balsa sticks!
0

Terminology:
Define the following key terms related to bridges. A great resource is
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/lab/forces.html

Compressio
A force to squeeze materials together.
n

Tension A force that stretches material apart/

Buckling Giving way as a result of pressure after bending too much.

When one side of a material is squeezed together while the

Bending
other stretches apart, curving whatever it is.

Shear To cut material apart in opposite directions

Torsion An action or force that twists material apart.

Loads:
Define the different types of loads that must be carried by a bridge. A great
resource is
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/lab/loads.html
 Strictly the weight of the structure itself as well as anything that
Dead Load
is directly attached.

Weight of only items on the structure (varying; people, cars or

Live Load
spiderman).

Settlement Soil underneath a structure becoming uneven, thus changing said

Load structures shape.

A measure of the temperatures effect on a structure by the

Thermal Load
expansion or shrinking of a structure.

Earthquake Load occurring when the ground shakes and consequently moves
Load the structure horizontally.

Wind Load To push horizontally on a structure.

Loads that change with time and can have compounding effects
Dynamic Load
(gradual degradation over time)

Material Comparison:
Compare and contrast the use of the following materials regarding its cost to weight
ratio, load performance and variety of applications: A great resource is
http://wwwbuildingbig.pbs.org/wgbh//lab/materials.html
Concrete vs Reinforced concrete

Both are composed of cement, water, and stones with the only difference being
the steel bars inside the reinforced concrete. Likewise, each are cheap solutions to
a fireproof and waterproof material that may also mold or compress well.
However, reinforced has a much stronger tension than non-reinforced as well as
being less susceptible to cracking (only when it cools and hardens).

Steel vs. cast iron

Cast iron and steel are mainly composed of iron and carbon, albeit a significantly
less amount of carbon in steel. As before, steel remains the strong compression
and molding rating but has stronger tension than cast iron structures. While both
may break unexpectedly, steel can rust or lose strength when exposed to high
temperatures.

Bridge Types (begins on next page):

For each bridge type, include the following information:
Main characteristics
Illustration of key components
Two examples of each type with a picture, name, location, and span
length

Bridge Type 1: Beam (a.k.a. Girder) Bridge

Main Characteristics Illustration
This bridge is parallel to the direction of
flowing traffic with a wide flange and
concrete decks.

Example 1 Example 2
Manchac Swamp
Name: Name: Tianjin Grand Bridge
Bridge

Location: Louisiana, USA Location: China

Span Span
22.8mi 70.6mi
Length: Length:
The bridge collapsed
from a barge
This is a railroad
Other collision and Other
bridge that opened
Facts: remains one of the Facts:
on June 30, 2011.
largest bridges in
the world.

(Picture)

(Picture)
Bridge Type 2: Truss Bridge
Main Characteristics Illustration

The bridge is based off of a triangle,

with the right triangle having a
hypotenuse the goes to the abutments.
All trusses are connected through
hinges.

Example 1 Example 2
Sazananigawa
Name: Name: Sky Gate Bridge
Bridge

Location: Japan Location: Osaka, Japan

Span Span
159m 3750m
Length: Length:
There is a 2-span The trusses are
Other continuous deck of Other double-decked, and
Facts: non-uniform Facts: it is a railroad
structure. bridge.
 (Picture)
(Picture)
Bridge Type 3: Arch Bridge
Main Characteristics Illustration

The bridge is curved in order to

distribute the push load across the
structure. Abutments on each ending
side of the bridge carry its weight and
are also used to keep the structure
stationery.

Example 1 Example 2
New River Gorge
Name: Chaotianmen Bridge Name:
Bridge

Location: Chonqing, China Location: Fayetteville, WV

Span Span
552m 518m
Length: Length:
Longest steel arch
This bridge was
bridge in the world
built in 1977.
(1741m). It is used
Other Other Coming in at 924m,
to transport both
Facts: Facts: it is the largest steel
train and car traffic
arch in the United
over the river
States.
underneath.
(Pict (Picture)

ure)
Bridge Type 4: Suspension Bridge
Main Characteristics Illustration

The bridge is held through vertical

supports as well as ropes in tandem
with a downward arc on the surface of
the bridge.

Example 1 Example 2
Clifton Suspension
Name: Mackinac Bridge Name:
Bridge

Location: Michigan Location: Bristol, New Zealand

Span Span
26,372ft 1352ft
Length: Length:
Original plans for
the bridge were
intended to be made
The roadway width
from stone, and due
Other is 54ft with a height Other
to Bristol Riots this
Facts: of 200ft above sea Facts:
was halted and later
level.
completed with 81
pairs of iron
wroughts.
(Picture)

(Picture)
Bridge Type 5: Cable-Stayed Bridge
Main Characteristics Illustration

Cable-stayed bridges are made from

single towers. From this, a radial
pattern extends throughout the bridge
and assist supporting the compressional
forces.

Example 1 Example 2
Name: Russky Bridge Name: Stonecutters Bridge
Stonecutters Island,
Location: Vladivostok Location:
Tsing Yi
Span Span
1104m 1018m
Length: Length:
There is a three lane
The Russky holds
expressway in this
both record for
one (oh, WOW!).
highest bridge
Other Other Additionally, high
towers and table
Facts: Facts: typhoon winds
stays. Also super
resulted in a difficult
exciting; it has four
build and 1600 tons
driving lanes.
of stainless steel.
 (Picture)

(Picture)

Record Breaking Bridges:

Research a record breaking bridge. Remember to have a unique record within your
class!

Record the following about a record breaking bridge:

Name: Sydney Harbour

Location: Australia

Bridge
Beam
Type:
Cost (if
$13.5 million
known):
Year Built: 1923-1932
Record
Widest bridge
Held:

(Picture)
Other
Facts:

Bridge Disasters:
Research a bridge disaster. Again, remember it should be unique within your class!

Include the following about the bridge disaster:

Name: Quebec Bridge (Picture)

Location: Quebec, Canada

Bridge
Truss
Type:
Year Built: 1882
Disaster Aug 29, 1907 & Sep
Date: 11, 1916
This disaster brought
about the realization
of power unsupervised
engineers have, and
would later go on to
Impact on found the organization
Future of Professional
Bridges: Engineers. This
mandated certain
regulations and
guidelines as well as
creating an ethics test
for licensing.
Description Theodore Cooper
of designed a cheap
Disaster: bridge by utilizing
inexpensive materials
and lengthening the
bridge to 550m from
490m. This, in
combination with his
lack of supervision
and delegation of said
project to a mere
understudy, led to the
side horizontal pieces
of the bridge to begin
flexing under the
immense compression.
Finally, the south arms
bent to an irreversible
point and collapsed,
as the carrying
capacity was lower
than the weight of the
bridge itself.