Bridges design and construction

Academic Year 2023/2024 - Teacher: PIER PAOLO ROSSI

Expected Learning Outcomes

The course aims to :

  • provide knowledge regarding the historical development of bridges and types commonly used in structural engineering 
  • provide knowledge regarding  the construction techniques of bridges
  • provide knowledge regarding the actions on bridges  
  • provide knowledge regarding the main theoretical models applied to the structural analysis of bridges 
  • provide knowledge regarding the design of bridges, in view of present codes 
  • provide knowledge regarding the assessment of damage of existing bridges.

Course Structure

Frontal teaching: theoretical lessons and classroom exercises.

If teaching is given in a mixed or remote mode, the necessary changes with respect to what has been declared may be introduced, in order to comply with the program envisaged and reported in the syllabus.

Required Prerequisites

Basic knowledge regarding :

  • Structural mechanics
  • Design of structures

Attendance of Lessons

Attendance to lessons is strongly recommended as it is consistent with the proposed training model, which aims to encourage gradual learning, active participation of the student in the classroom and dialogue between teachers and students.

Attendance is also recommended as the teacher is expected to carry out design exercises in the classroom.

Detailed Course Content

Theoretical lessons:

  • Historical development of bridges
  • Types commonly used in structural engineering: girder bridges, rigid-frame bridges, arch bridges, cable-stayed bridges and suspension bridges
  • Parts of the bridge: deck, piers, abutments, bearing devices, expansion joints etc.
  • Codes regarding design and construction of bridge
  • Loads on bridges
  • Design of bridges with composite decks
  • Influence lines and infleunce surfaces
  • Torsion in bridge decks
  • Local instability in steel girders
  • Bearing devices
  • Design of foundations, piers and abutments
  • Seismic design of bridges
  • Constructional techniques
  • Methods for the assessment of damage of existing bridges

Practical lessons:

  • Design of bridges with composite steel-concrete decks (reinforced concrete slab, longitudinal steel girder, tranverse beams, bearing devices and piers)

Textbook Information

  • Ioannis Vayas, Aristidis Iliopoulos. Design of composite steel concrete braidges to Eurocodes. CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group. ISBN: 978-1-4665-5744-4
  • Raithel Aldo- Costruzioni di Ponti-Liguori Editore-Napoli 1970
  • Raithel Aldo.Ponti a travata - volume primo -Liguori Editore-Napoli 1978
  • Petrangeli Mario Paolo. Progettazione e Costruzione di Ponti-Masson 
  • Priestley M. J. N., Seible F., Calvi G. M. Seismic Design and Retrofit of Bridges; John Wiley & Sons; 1996. ISBN: 978-0-471-57998-4 
  • Normative Tecniche in vigore (D.M.14/01/2008 e ss.mm.ii, Circolare 2/2/2009, Eurocodici)

Course Planning

 SubjectsText References
1Historical analysis of bridges and causes of collapses- Leonardo Fernandez Troyano. Bridge Engineering: A Global Perspective Hardcover. 2003, Thomas Telford ISBN-13: 978-07-2773-215-6 - Joachim Scheer. Failed Bridges: Case Studies, Causes and Consequences. 2010, Ernst & Sohn. ISBN: 978-3-43
2Typological analysis of bridges: girder bridges, arch bridges with upper and lower deck, cable-stayed bridges, suspension bridges- Leonardo Fernandez Troyano. Bridge Engineering: A Global Perspective Hardcover. 2003, Thomas Telford ISBN-13: 978-07-2773-215-6
3Parts of a bridge and related construction details- Notes from the teacher
4Methods for construction of bridges- Members of IABSE Working Group 6. Bridge Deck Erection Equipment ISBN 978-0-7277-6193-4
5Code prescriptions regarding design and construction of bridges- Norme Tecniche per le Costruzioni, Eurocodes
6Actions on bridges- Norme Tecniche per le Costruzioni, Eurocode 1- Notes from the teacher
7Bridges with steel-concrete composite decks - Ioannis Vayas, Aristidis Iliopoulos. Design of composite steel concrete braidges to Eurocodes. CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group. ISBN: 978-1-4665-5744-4
8Theory of influence lines and surfaces
9Uniform and non-uniform torsion, fundamental equation of torsion
10Local stability of steel beams- Eurocode 3 (part 1.5)
11Bearing devices- Petrangeli Mario Paolo. Progettazione e Costruzione di Ponti, Masson
12Notes on foundations, piers and abutements 
13Seismic protection of bridges 
14Analysis of damage in bridges 

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

The gradual learning of the topics covered in the course
will be assessed by the teacher following the corrections of the project work and following the student's participation in class discussions.
The final assessment will be carried out on the basis of the project work and by means of an oral exam on the topics of the course.

Note: the verification of learning can also be carried out in remote, should the conditions require it

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

  1. Traffic loads on bridges
  2. Theory of Courbon
  3. Flexural verification of steel-concrete composite bridge beams
  4. Design of shear studs in steel-concrete composite bridge beams
  5. Shear verification of steel-concrete composite bridge beams
  6. Lateral torsional stability verification of steel-concrete composite bridge beams
  7. Methods for construction of bridges