Bridge that gap!!
Posted by: BigH47 on 08 July 2008
After seeing a couple of great bridges in the "Source first" thread, how about posting some interesting bridges and gap solving structures?
Sad I might be but manifestation of some of the brain power and engineering that has been used in these structures can be the most beautiful building seen.Some times this beauty is in the solution rather than the "prettiness" of the actual construction.
Sad I might be but manifestation of some of the brain power and engineering that has been used in these structures can be the most beautiful building seen.Some times this beauty is in the solution rather than the "prettiness" of the actual construction.
Mostar Bridge:
Perfection of form and function.
George
Perfection of form and function.
George
Glasgow's Clyde Arc - which was immediately dubbed the 'Squinty bridge,' a wonderful moniker that has taken over in common local parlance.
Millau viaduct
And again finished..
Mark's a Show-off!
Ian
But fantastic structure
Ian
But fantastic structure
Percy Burn Viaduct is located in the far south of the South Island of New Zealand. It is reputedly the largest surviving wooden viaduct in the world.
My own image after a 2hr walk in real NZ mud!
Ian
My own image after a 2hr walk in real NZ mud!
Ian
It was too good to last!
The Spikey Bridge, built in 1843 - outside Swansea, Tasmania.
Between Norway and Sweden, the Svinesund Bridge.
Apparently the longest single arch bridge in the world.
George
Apparently the longest single arch bridge in the world.
George
quote:Originally posted by BigH47:
I'll get my chance to see one of the worlds most famous bridges later this month when we visit San Francisco.
You mean this one?
Fred
P.S. Very nice photo ... not mine, though.
Good thread BigH, this one is pretty amazing too.
Arch bridges are the most beautiful.
Pics from Trek Earth:
Beggar's Bridge in Glaisdale, England.
Bridge of Arta in Greece:
Other:
The Leonardo Da Vinci bridge in Aas, Norway:
And this one, two miles from my sweetspot:
Pics from Trek Earth:
Beggar's Bridge in Glaisdale, England.
Bridge of Arta in Greece:
Other:
The Leonardo Da Vinci bridge in Aas, Norway:
And this one, two miles from my sweetspot:
Two different images of the infamous Skye Bridge.
Ian
Ian
And who can forget the 1890 Forth Rail bridge:
1859!
IK Brunnels Bridge over the Tamar near Plymouth. It still looks modern!
Another view, and and clearly IKB was not modest! Why be modest though.
Here is an interesting observation. Clearly the large over arch in each span is going to make a significant outward thrust under load, which is always the case with arched bridges, and here he neatly counters this within the structure with the mirrored underslung arches, which are effectively as the wires in in a suspension bridge.
Formally this makes for an eye pleasing symetry, but has the crucial element of containing the thrust forces along the length of the bridge as being self-cancelling!
Beautiful bit of brain-work, long before structural analysis tools on computers could have guaranteed such a satisfactory solution!
Form, function, and brainwork in perfect harmony!
George
Another one that is a beauty in a more old fashioned style from IKB.
"Maidenhead Railway Bridge carries the main line of the Great Western Railway over the River Thames in Maidenhead.
"The bridge was designed by the Great Western's famous engineer, IK Brunel, and it was completed in 1838. The railway is carried across the river on two brick arches, which at the time of building were the widest and flattest in the world. Each span is 128 feet (39 m), with a rise of only 24 feet (7 m). The flatness of the arches was necessary to avoid putting a "hump" in the bridge, which would have gone against Brunel's obsession with flat, gentle gradients (1 in 1,320 on this stretch).
"It has been claimed that the board of the Great Western Railway did not believe that the arches would stay up under the weight of the trains and ordered Brunel to leave the wooden formwork used to construct the arches in place. However, Brunel simply lowered the formwork slightly so that it had no structural effect, but appeared to be in place. Later, when the formwork was washed away in floods, but the bridge remained, the strength of the arches was accepted.
"As built, Maidenhead Railway Bridge carried two lines of Brunel's broad guage track.
"Subsequently the bridge has been widened, and now carries the four lines of standard gauge track that make up the Great Western Main Line out of London Paddington Station."
Edited down from Wiki. George
"Maidenhead Railway Bridge carries the main line of the Great Western Railway over the River Thames in Maidenhead.
"The bridge was designed by the Great Western's famous engineer, IK Brunel, and it was completed in 1838. The railway is carried across the river on two brick arches, which at the time of building were the widest and flattest in the world. Each span is 128 feet (39 m), with a rise of only 24 feet (7 m). The flatness of the arches was necessary to avoid putting a "hump" in the bridge, which would have gone against Brunel's obsession with flat, gentle gradients (1 in 1,320 on this stretch).
"It has been claimed that the board of the Great Western Railway did not believe that the arches would stay up under the weight of the trains and ordered Brunel to leave the wooden formwork used to construct the arches in place. However, Brunel simply lowered the formwork slightly so that it had no structural effect, but appeared to be in place. Later, when the formwork was washed away in floods, but the bridge remained, the strength of the arches was accepted.
"As built, Maidenhead Railway Bridge carried two lines of Brunel's broad guage track.
"Subsequently the bridge has been widened, and now carries the four lines of standard gauge track that make up the Great Western Main Line out of London Paddington Station."
Edited down from Wiki. George
And the most famous of them all.
ATB from George
ATB from George