The Final Test…

 Before the opening ceremony in 1859, the

Victoria Bridge underwent a safety test.

 The test consisted of an 18 platform cart train filled

to capacity with rocks crossed the bridge. The
train and load weighed about 1 ton/foot.

 The two locomotives hired to pull the train across

were insufficient and a third was required.

 In spite, of all this weight, the deflection (bending)

of the bridge was a little over 1 inch and returned
to normal as the load was removed.
The Victoria Bridge
A quick overview of the Tubular design
Situation

 The Victoria Bridge was a technological

marvel, yet the engineers in charge
knew less about materials than we do
today.

 Justify
which material you would have
chosen for the project.
What to consider?
 What should one consider before
selecting the construction materials?
What to consider?
 What are the stresses/external forces the
material will undergo? (Constraints)

 How do we want the material to react to such

stresses? (Deformation)

 How will the material react? (Material

properties)

 Will the material last a long time?

(Degradation)
Constraints

What external forces are at play?

Constraints
A constraint is the effect external forces
have on a material/object/system.

 Examples of constraints:
 Pulling an elastic band
 Squishing a sponge
Types of Constraints
 There are 5 main types of constraints
 Compression

 Tension

 Torsion

 Deflection

 Shearing

Using the definitions soon to be provided, can you give a

common everyday example for each of these constraints?
Types of constraints
 Compression:
 When a material is subjected to forces that
tend to crush it

 Tension
 When a material is subjected to forces that
tend to stretch it
Types of Constraints
 Torsion
 When a material is subjected to forces that
tend to twist it

 Shearing
 When a material is subjected to forces that
tend to cut it

 Deflection
 When a material is subject to forces that
tend to bend it
Types of Constraints
 Which constraints would a bridge most likely
be subjected? Explain your reasoning.

 5 Constraint reminder:
 Compression
 Tension
 Torsion
 Shearing
 Deflection
Deformation

Ways that materials react to the

constraint
Deformations
 A material deformation is the change in shape
of a material based on the constraints that
are applied.

 There are three main types of deformations

 Elastic
 Plastic
 Fracture

Using the definition soon to be provided, can you give a

common everyday example for each of these deformations?
Types of material deformation
 Elastic:

 When the constraint leads to a temporary

change in the shape or dimensions of the
material.

 When the constraint is removed, the

material returns to its original form.
Types of material deformation
 Plastic:
 The constraint leads to a permanent
change in the shape or dimensions of the
material.

 Even when the constraint is removed, the

material remains deformed
Types of Material Deformation

 Fracture:
 The constraint is so intense that it breaks
the material
Types of Deformations
 What are some of the deformations that
a bridge is likely to undergo?

 Explain your reasoning.

Properties

Characteristics that will help

determine how a given material
will react to a constraint.
Properties
 The reaction of a material to constraints depends on
its mechanical properties.

 Types of Mechanical Properties:

 Hardness
 Elasticity
 Resilience
 Ductility
 Malleability
 Stiffness

 Which properties do you believe were considered in

the selection of the building material for the Victoria
Bridge?
Definition of mechanical properties
 Hardness
 Ability to resist indentation

 Elasticity:
 Ability to return to their original shape

 Resilience:
 Ability to resist shocks
Definition of mechanical properties
 Ductility:
 Ability to be stretched without breaking

 Malleability:
 Ability to be flattened or bent without breaking

 Stiffness:
 Ability
to retain their shape when subjected to
many constraints
A material can also undergo chemical
changes, such as rusting and corrosion.

 Whatkind of properties should a bridge

possess?
Other properties
 Resistance to corrosion:
 Abilityto resist the effects of corrosive
substances which cause the formation of rust,
for example.

 Electrical conductivity:
 Ability to carry an electric current

 Thermal conductivity:
 Ability to transmit heat
Degradation

How will a material age?

Degradation
 The degradation of a materials is the
decline in some of its properties due to
its environment or time
Degradation of the Victoria Bridge
 In1897 the Victoria bridge was
renovated
 To accommodate the increase in the
demand of transportation
 To repair the degradation of the bridge’s
superstructure. The piers only required
minor changes.
Common materials used in the
1800’s
Wood
 Wood is a ligneous (fibrous) material whose
bark has been removed.

 The mechanical properties differ depending

on the type of wood

 Two types of wood

 Hardwood (deciduous trees)
 More resistant to wear and harder than softwood
 Softwood (coniferous trees)
Wood (general properties)
 Hardness, elasticity, resilience
 Low thermal conductivity
 Easily shaped and assembled
 Light weight

 Would these properties be useful during

the construction of a bridge?
Wood degradation
 Due to its organic nature, fungus,
insects and micro-organisms can infest
the wood.

 By
varnishing, painting or treating the
wood, we can extend its lifetime.
Metals
 Metalsare not usually used in their pure
form, but are combined with other
substances to improve their properties.

 This
mixture is called an alloy
(homogeneous mixture of two or more
metals)
Metals (properties)
 The properties vary on the metal used

 Out of the list provided to you, which metal or alloy

would you consider in the construction of the
Victoria Bridge. Justify your answer.
Please keep in mind…
 The Victoria bridge is a Tubular Bridge

 It is 6 592 feet in length

 The superstructure alone weighed 9044 tons.

 That is 8 204 578.79 kg

 Due to the use of the steam engine, temperatures

inside the tube could reach up to 125 F
 That is 52 Celsius
Metals Description Properties Cost *
Aluminum White Malleability 2.508$/kg
Soft Lightness
Abundant in nature Resists corrosion
  Very good electrical
conductor
Iron Silver in color Ductility 0.21$/kg
Can rust in the Malleability
presence of Oxygen
Nickel Grey Hardness 1.43$/kg
Malleability
Resists Corrosion
Tin Silvery white Ductility 16.214$/kg
Malleability
Relatively low melting point
(239C)
Alloys Description Properties Cost*

Cast iron (iron Made of more than 2% Hardness 0.18$/kg

and carbon carbon
mixture)
Steel (iron and Made of less than 1.5% Hardness 0.52$/kg
carbon carbon
mixture) Resilience

Malleability

Brass (copper Mixture of copper and steel Ductility 2.37$/kg

and steel)
Color varies according to Malleability
mixture
 
  Resists Corrosion

Excellent electrical
conductivity