To ensure that a steel bridge design can be safely, economically, and reliably executed (fabricated, assembled, and erected), designers should be aware of the processes of fabrication and erection, the capabilities and limitations of the steelwork contractor, and how the design choices affect those processes.
Important components of Steel bridge structures:
Beam: A beam is a structural component on a bridge that resists loads applied to its axis. A beam typically responds to forces by bending in reaction to its support points, which are typically the abutments and piers at either end. Beam bridges are typically the simplest and, therefore, least strong and flexible over longer distances. They’re generally used to move traffic over smaller spans.
Guard rail: A guard rail is a system used on the sides of bridges — and sometimes, the median — to keep people and vehicles from entering unsafe areas or falling off the edge.
The four most common types of guardrails (from weakest/least expensive to strongest/most expensive) include:
- Cable and posts (only used in rural areas).
- Steel with wood or metal posts.
- Concrete or stone.
- Steel box beams.
- Concrete barriers (typically used in medians).
Safety, cost-benefit, and repair-related concerns go into deciding which type of guard rail is used on a particular bridge.
Girder: A girder is the main horizontal support beam on a bridge. It supports the smaller beams. Girders often have an I-beam cross-section made up of two load-bearing flanges separated by a stabilizing web. However, they may also have a box shape, Z shape, or other form.
Substructure: The structure of the bridge below the level of bearings is known as the Substructure. The function of the Substructure is to support the superstructure components and transmit their loads safely to the subsoil,
Fabricating the bridge steelwork
The principal activities at the bridge fabrication works are:
- Pre-assembly butt welding
- Cutting and profiling
- Drilling and edge preparation
- Assembly
- Welding
- Fitting of stiffeners
- Shear connectors
- Trial erection
- Coating application
Types of Steel Bridges:
- Steel Box Girder Bridge
- Steel Truss Bridge
- Steel Arch Bridge
- Cable bridges
- Suspension bridges
- Long-span bridges
- Highway bridges
- Railroad bridges
- Footbridges
Benefits of steel bridges:
- Lightweight construction
- Sustainability
- Attractive design
- Faster constructions
Things to be taken into consideration:
- Material qualities of the steel
- Design needs
- Cost
- Product availability
- Toughness
- Weldability
- Corrosion resistance
With our rich experience and technical expertise in more than ten countries like the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Dubai, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, and India, and with the use of Tekla software, we provide you with the highest quality Steel Bridge structural detailing and modeling.
Contact us or send an email to info@theparadigmengineering.com to outsource your steel bridge structure detailing modeling and Shop fabrication drawings Services.