"Building Big" Web Site: Bridges
Now that you have reached the “Build A Bridge”
web site the real fun begins! Four different types of bridges are given to you
in “Bridge Basics”. Your job later will be to determine what type of bridge to
use for each one of the scenarios given to you. First you need to learn a few
basic principles about bridges to be able to make the best decisions for their
applications.
Define:
Sketch the Forces that act on a beam bridge-
The Truss Bridge-
Define and give an example of a cantilever
bridge-
Illustrate the forces that act on truss
bridges-
Now that you've mastered the bridge basics, test
your bridge-building skills in the The Bridge Challenge!
The city of Craggy Rock needs your help to build
four new bridges.
Select the best application from the above bridge types:
Location 1: Multi-lane bridge for commuters and tourists
Location 2: Footbridge across a stream
Location 3: Highway bridge across a busy shipping port
Location 4: Railroad bridge in a national park
Use a Search Engine
such as Google and find four famous bridges that are located outside of the
United States. Check these out for your first two bridges.
Akashi Kaikyo Bridge-
Garabit Viaduct-
A.
B.
C.
D.
Build A Bridge Activity
Design World – Bridges and Bridge Design
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bridge/build.html
Step 2 - Do your homework.
Click on each bridge to discover its strengths -- and weaknesses.
(You'll need this information to play well)
Bridge Builder: Questions and Answers
1. What are the four basic types of
bridges? List strengths and weaknesses for each type.
a.
b.
c.
d.
2. The weight of an arch bridge is carried
outward along the______________ of the arch to the supports at each end.
Describe what characteristics a building material must have to support this
style of bridge.
3. What are the two configurations of cable
stayed bridges?
4. Suspension bridges can span distances between
_____ and _____ feet.
5. Most of the weight is carried by the
________________ on suspension bridges.
6. Cable stayed bridges can span distances
between _____and ____ feet.
7. What is the difference in how the road way is
supported between a suspension bridge and a cable stayed bridge?
8. Give two examples of a:
[Example: Suspension Bridge / Brooklyn Bridge]
Beam bridge-
Suspension bridge-
Cable Stayed-
Arch Bridge-
Step 3 - Play the game.
Finally Step Three, "Play the Game".
Here you will use what you have learned to identify which bridge will work the
BEST for each of the four scenarios. Refer to the last question on your
question and answer sheet and write down which bridge you chose for each scenario.
However, there is only one bridge for each scenario that is the BEST DESIGN.
The game will assist you in determining the correct choice. Once you have
determined which bridge is the absolute best for each situation explain why
that bridge functions best for that given environment. Remember there are four
different scenarios to complete.
* A
5,000-foot span across an ocean bay where huge ships come and go.-
____________________________-why
* A
120-foot span across a freeway.- _________________________-why
* A
1,000-foot span across a river busy with barge traffic.-
__________________________-why
* A
700-foot span across a deep canyon gorge.- ____________________________-why
The Last Activity will be “designing a bridge”
that is a program download offered by the West Point and their Bridge Design
Contest. Plan your design strategies.
Bridge contest.usma.edu
The lower the cost of your bridge design, the
higher your standing in the contest. Also, consider ways to use lighter
materials and consider the forces that you learned about such as compression
and tensile strength.
You will
find the bridge design program on the computers in the Tech Lab.