Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering, Unit Catalogue 2008/09 |
AR30207 Bridge engineering 1 |
| Credits: 3 |
| Level: Honours |
| Semester: 2 |
| Assessment: EX 100% |
| Requisites: |
| Before taking this unit you must take AR30083 |
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Aims: To develop an awareness and enthusiasm for the design, construction and assessment of various forms of bridge structures.
Learning Outcomes: The successful student should be able to demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the following subjects, and an ability to apply that knowledge and understanding in engineering design: the history of bridge engineering and lessons learned from intermittent bridge collapses; the choice of bridge types; bridge construction techniques and components; design loading on bridges; elastic and plastic analysis techniques; strength assessment of existing highway bridges. Skills: An ability to analyse and design bridge structures, through consideration of aesthetic, structural, construction and sustainability issues. Content: The history of bridge engineering, from stone arches and rope-suspension bridges to the wholly plastic Aberfeldy Bridge and the 2km long span Akashi Bridge. Lessons learned from intermittent bridge collapses. Bridge components and their nomenclature. The choice of bridge types and suitability at specific sites for reasons of constructability, aesthetics, economics, function and available materials. Issues involved in short, medium and long span bridge design. Bridge construction techniques available for various applications, and design of the bridge to allow for easier construction. Design loading on bridges, including dead, superimposed dead, traffic, wind, temperature, earthquake, etc. Elastic and plastic analysis techniques available for the design of various forms of bridge structure. Realistic strength assessment of existing highway bridges, so that needless demolition of adequate bridges may be prevented. Bridges of the future, from short-span to the Messina Crossing. |