Bridges, Forces, and Materials

Truss Arch

Beam Cable Stay

Arch Suspension

Materials and their corresponding properties:

Steel - great under all forces except it weakens when exposed to fire.

Concrete/Ceramics - great under compresion - not too good under the other four forces.

Wood - pound for pound it's stronger than steel. Doesn't weather well and burns when exposed to flame.

Plastic - Some polycarbonates are very strong for bending and compression (great in arch form) weathers very well- however still in the early experimental stages

LOADS

Live Load - All the variable mass that comes and goes: people, cars, etc...

Dead Load - The mass of the structure itself, and most specifically it has to support itself before it can support any live load