Bridge Design

Question 1

What is the name of the bridge that you could make with just a tree truck that you need to span the distance of something that needs crossing?

Answer 1

Flat beam

Question 2

Fill in the blanks:
The ____ bridge was built initially with small blocks called keystones. These were often wedged in shape and also interlocked to add strength. The ____ has great engineering value because when an _____ is placed under load , the forces placed on the ______ are directed along the ____ and to the supports. The blocks within the ____ are also placed under compression. Stone and concrete are very strong when compressed

Answer 2

Arch(ed)

Question 3

What type of bridge uses differently designed frames, that usually consist of triangle shaped patterns, that can be extremely strong and withhold extremely strong loads

Answer 3

Truss

Question 4

What bridge uses strong materials in tension to hold itself, and a load, suspended in mid air. It needs large towers to support the cables, usually made of stone concrete or brick

Answer 4

Suspension

Question 5

What where many earliest bridges still in existence made of?

Answer 5

Stone

Question 6

Define bridge

Answer 6

‘Any structure that can span a given distance between two or more points’ (‘Bridges’ by Mr Barter)

Question 7

Name two types of natural bridges

Answer 7

A fallen tree spanning a river, a large rock, ice

Question 8

When was the ‘Pont du Gard’ estimated to be built?

Answer 8

19B.C.

Question 9

How long have timber bridges been in existence?

Answer 9

Approximately over 2000 years

Question 10

How many arches does the ‘Kantai Bridge’ have?

Answer 10

5

Question 11

What is heavier? Suspension or trussed?

Answer 11

Suspension

Question 12

Name 3 examples of when you would use steel products in a bridge

Answer 12

Truss members, wire cables, box girders, reinforcing in concrete, bolts and rivets

Question 13

The Romans used what to make a simple form of today’s concrete?

Answer 13

Limestone, pebbles and sand

Question 14

Concrete has been very strong in _____ and has been used in bridge building since the late 19th century

Answer 14

Compression

Question 15

Steel does what to concrete, to make it stronger when in tension

Answer 15

Reinforces

Question 16

What am I? Modern bridge design often utilises me to spam large distances when reinforced with steel. My hollow concrete shell allows bridges to use less weight and as a result, span a longer distance without bending. I am a hollow boa shaped beam that can span large distances when reinforced with steel

Answer 16

I am a box girder!

Question 17

Which Melbourne bridge failed during construction and killed 35 people?

Answer 17

West gate bridge

Question 18

are bridges stronger rigid or flexible?

Answer 18

Rigid

Question 19

What are tensile forces?

Answer 19

Tensile forces are forces that attempt to pull a member apart. These types of forces are supported by ties in truss design

Question 20

What does compressive forces do?

Answer 20

Forces attempt to squash a member. These types of forces are supported by struts in truss design

Question 21

What do shear forces do?

Answer 21

Shear forces apply when one member is trying to slide across another. The two metal plates below are placing a shear force on the rivet

Question 22

Torsion occurs when?

Answer 22

Torsion can occur when a member that is supported at one end is loaded heavily. The beam will tend to twist so that it will bend more easily

Question 23

Around what time was it that cast iron was used in bridges?

Answer 23

Around the 1800’s