ASCE/SEI Workshop, Washington DC, Feb.

2008

EVOLUTION OF BRIDGE TECHNOLOGY

MAN-CHUNG TANG, Chairman of the Board Presented by Tom Ho, Vice President
BY

T.Y. Lin International

1. What has been the most important factor in the evolution of bridge technology? 2. Would the Romans and the Egyptians be able to build our bridges if they had the construction materials of today?

Evolution:
Human beings started building bridges many thousand years ago. What made our modern bridges different from the ancient ones?

First of all, What are our bridges made up of?

Let us look at the bridges we have today.

In the several thousand years since we started building bridges, we have built only

FOUR TYPES OF BRIDGES

In the several thousand years since we started building bridges, we have built only

FOUR TYPES OF BRIDGES

Girder bridges Arch bridges Suspension bridges Cable-stayed bridges

Extradosed Bridge is a combination of girder bridge and cable-stayed bridge

We can have other combinations too Partially cable-supported girder bridges.

Franz Dishcinger proposed this combination of cable-stayed and suspension bridge

But, still only these four basic types.

All four types of bridges have existed for millenniums!

SUSPENSION

GIRDER

CABLE-STAYED

They were not as sophisticated.

CONT. BEAM STRESS RIBBON

But, conceptually correct nevertheless!

All four types of bridge have existed for millenniums!

SUSPENSION

GIRDER

They build them Intuitively CABLE-STAYED Even before we gave them They were not as a name. sophisticated.

CONT. BEAM

STRESS RIBBON

But, conceptually correct nevertheless!

All four types of bridge have existed for millenniums!

SUSPENSION

GIRDER

They used Construction materials available naturally! CABLE-STAYED

Wood, vines, stone, ropes, They were not as sophisticated. etc. But, conceptually
CONT. BEAM STRESS RIBBON

correct nevertheless!

Sad to admit, In the last few thousand years, We have NOT invented any new bridge type.

Because we have not invented anything It is an evolution Not any revolution.

Because we have not invented anything It is an evolution Not any revolution.

But, our bridges today are

Bigger, stronger, more sophisticated, more durable and, more predictable.

Todays bridges

Bigger, stronger, more sophisticated, and more durable

CRAIGELLACHIE, 1815

What affects the evolution of bridge technology?

What affect the evolution of bridge technology? Science - structural theories Construction equipment Construction material

Look at these old, old structures

What affect the evolution of bridge technology? Structural theories Construction equipment Construction material

What affect the evolution of bridge technology? Structural theories Construction equipment Construction material

They did it empirically!

Structural theories Construction equipment Construction material

They did it empirically!

60 40 20 0 1st Qtr 3rd Qtr

Pyramid of Dozer

2750BC

West North

Great Pyramid of Gaza

2550 BC

They did it empirically! They made it work, somehow! Structural theories Construction equipment Construction material

Material has been the most important factor in the evolution! Structural theories Construction equipment Construction material

Creation of a bridge - A Flow Chart

A Flow Chart

Two Dominating Materials in the History of Bridge Construction are:

Stone
&

Steel

Dominating influence

Two main eras in bridge evolution:

Arch Era
2000BC 1850AD
Almost 4000 years &

Stone

Contemporary Era
1850AD - now
Only about 160 years 2000 BC Roman Empire

Arch Era

1850 AD Contemporary Era 2008 AD

Steel

ARCH ERA
Stone

Up to two hundred years ago, the only construction material available was STONE.

STONE can take high compression, but very little tension.

Arch is the only bridge type that does not require tensile capacity of the material

Arch is the only bridge type that does not require tensile capacity of the material

The Romans built many spectacular arch bridges

The Romans built many spectacular arch bridges

Over 2000 years ago!

The Romans built many spectacular arch bridges

The Roman arches are all semi-circular

Zhaozhou Bridge, China

Span 37m, Rise 7m. Built 600AD
37m 18.5m 7m

37m

The first non-semi-circular arch bridge.

Zhaozhou Bridge

A Roman Arch

18.5m

7m

Semi-circular vs Segmental

The Romans were really masters on stone arches!

The Romans were really masters on stone arches! But, for almost one and a half millennia after the Romans,

nothing new happened!

Then came the

Contemporary Era
From 1850 until now

Contemporary Era
From 1850 until now

Only about 160 years. But there were more bridges built in these 160 years than the 4000 years before it.

Contemporary Era
From 1850 until now

Iron & Steel

There was a transition period that we had IRON as construction material. Iron is much stronger than stone, but its tensile capacity is still very limited.

There was a transition period that we had IRON as construction material. Iron is much stronger than stone, but its tensile capacity is still very limited.

We may categorize iron as a primitive form of steel, as far as construction material is concerned.

The Chinese started building iron chain suspension bridges around 600 AD

A suspension bridge in Tibet

A bridge in Tibet

A bridge in Tibet

Iron arch bridges was popular for a period of time

Dom Luis I Bridge By Gustav Eiffel and Th. Seyrig, 1885, span = 172m

Coalbrookdale Bridge, Span 30.5m By Thomas Pritchard, 1779

Menai Bridge the first major suspension Bridge Designed by Thomas Telford, span = 176m based on a patent by James Findley, completed in 1826. With iron eye bar chains as main cable.

Menai Bridge the first major suspension Bridge Designed by Thomas Telford, span = 176m B based on a patent by James Findley, completed in 1826. With iron eye bar chains as main cable.

Steel
Mass production processes were introduced in the mid 19th century

Steel
Mass production processes were introduced in the mid 19th century It changed the entire landscape of bridge construction

Steel
Mass production processes were introduced in the mid 19th century It changed the entire landscape of bridge construction Steel plates used for girders boxes and trusses Steel bars for concrete reinforcement Steel cold drawn wires for cables Steel wires for prestressing

Steel
Mass production processes were introduced in the mid 19th century

Three landmark steel bridge structures before the 20th century: 1. St. Louis Bridge by James Eads, 1874 2. Brooklyn Bridge by the Roeblings, 1883 3. Firth of Forth Bridge by John Fowler and Benj. Baker, 1889

The St Louis Bridge over the Mississippi.

Completed 1874, Spans 153m + 158.5m + 153m Designed by James Eads

The Brooklyn Bridge, New York City

Completed 1883, Span 486m. Designed by John and Washington Roebling

The Firth of Forth Rail Bridge, Scotland.

Completed 1889, Span 521m. Designed by John Fowler and Benjamin Baker

Then came A tale of three bridges, in early 1900s

Hell Gate Bridge, Sydney Harbor Bridge Bayonne Bridge

Bayonne Bridge in NY. By Othmar Ammann Span = 503.6m Constr. 1928 - 1931 Sydney Harbor Bridge. Span = 503m by Ralph Freemann, Const. 1924 - 1932.

The Hell Gate Bridge in New York by Gustav Lindenthal. Span = 298m. Completed in 1916.

Lupu, China, 2004 Span = 550m

New River Gorge, USA, 1978 Span = 518.3m

Competition of Span Lengths

Span Year

Hell Gate, NY Gustav Lindenthal Sydney Harbor Ralph Freemann Bayonne, NY Othmar Amman New River Gorge, WV Michael Bakers Lupu, Shanghai Lin Yuan Pui Caotienmen, Chongqing

298 503 503.6 518.3 550 552

1916 1932 1931 1978 2004 2008

S p a n L e n g th s ( m ) 600 500 400 300 200 100 0

St. Louis Pia Maria Garabit Luis I Hellgate Sydney Harbor Bayonne

1850 1900 1950 Year

New River Gorge

Competition of Arch Span Length

2000 2050

Lupu Caotienmen

Long span suspension bridges became possible only after high strength wire was available.

High Strength Steel Wire for Suspension Bridges Some landmark suspension bridges: Brooklyn George Washington Golden Gate Verranzano Narrows Humber Storebelt Akashi Kaikyo 486m, 1067m, 1280m, 1298m, 1410m, 1624m, 1991m, 1883 1931 1937 1964 1981 1998 2000

Golden Gate Verranzano Narrows Humber

1280m, 1937 1298m, 1964 1410m, 1981

Storebelt Akashi

1624m 1991m

1998 2000

S p a n L e n g th (m ) 1000 1500 2000 2500 500

Menai Sarine Valley Brooklyn

0
G. Washington Golden Gate Verranzano Humber Storebelt Akashi

1800 1850 1900 Year 1950 2000 2050

Longest Suspension Bridge Spans

S p a n L e n g th (m ) 1000 1500 2000 2500 500

Iron
Menai Sarine Valley Brooklyn

0
Steel
G. Washington Golden Gate Verranzano Humber Storebelt Akashi

1800 1850 1900 Year 1950 2000 2050

Longest Suspension Bridge Spans

The two giants: Messina Gibraltar 3,300m 5,000m

High Strength Wires also made cable-stayed bridges popular

High Strength Wires also made cable-stayed bridges popular

Because of the sag, cables must be stressed to a high force to be effective. Consequently, cables must be highly stressed.

High Strength Wires also made cable-stayed bridges popular

Because of the sag, cables must be stressed to a high force to be effective. Consequently, cables must be highly stressed. This means, cable wires must be very high strength.

Three World Record Spans within 60km. (Dusseldorf & Duisburg) Theodore Heuss Knie Neuenkamp 260m 1957 320m 1970 350m 1971

Span Lengths (m) 1000 1200 200

Stromsund Th. Heuss Leverkusen Knie Neuenkamp Sain Nazaire Annacis Yangpu Normandy Tatara Sutong

400

600

800

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 Year 2010 2020

Longest Cable-Stayed Bridge Spans

High Strength Steel also made prestressed concrete bridges possible

High Strength Steel also made prestressed concrete bridges possible Without high strength steel, prestressing is not effective.

Two Significant Prestressed Concrete Box Girder Bridges

Bendorf Bridge Span 208m, 1962

Second Shibanpo Bridge Span 330m, 2006

 350

C O N C R ETEG IR D ERB R ID G ES

SPAN LENGTH (m)

300 250 200 150 100 50 0 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Y EA RO FCO M PLETIO N
Concept of Structures by Man-Chung Tang,, 2003

 350

Milestone Segmental Bridges

Stolmasundet Koror Bendorf
Gateway Shibanpo

S P A N L E N G T H (m )

300 250 200 150 100 50 0 1940

Worms Balduinstein

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

YEAR
Concept of Structures by Man-Chung Tang,, 2003

LO N G EST STEELBO XG IR DERBR IDG ES

350

SPAN LENGTH (m)

300 250 200 150 100 50 0 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Y EA RO FCO M PLETIO N
Concept of Structures by Man-Chung Tang,, 2003

Effect of Materials on Evolution of Bridge Technology

Wood Stone Iron Steel Steel wires

- timber bridges, short spans - arch bridges, longer spans - early suspension bridges - long span girder bridges - long span suspension bridges - cable-stayed bridges - prestressed concrete bridges

Evolution:
1. What was the most important factor in the evolution in bridges? 2. Would the Romans and the Egyptians be able to build our bridges if they had the construction materials we have?

Evolution:
1. What was the most important factor in the evolution in bridges? 2. Would the Romans and the Egyptians be able to build our bridges if they had the construction materials we have?

Obviously, no one knows. But let us take an example.

Aerodynamics

Aerodynamics
Most early suspension bridges were failed by wind. Around 1800, James Findley patented the stiffened suspension bridge. Most of those bridges were destroyed by wind.

Aerodynamics
Most early suspension bridges were failed by wind. Around 1800, James Findley patented the stiffened suspension bridge. Most of those bridges were destroyed by wind. Around 1870, John Roebling installed inclined cables in Wheeling Bridge to help mitigate wind vibration problems. It worked! He found a solution in less than 70 years.

Aerodynamics
Most early suspension bridges were failed by wind. Around 1800, James Findley patented the stiffened suspension bridge. Most of those bridges were destroyed by wind. Around 1870, John Roebling installed inclined cables in Wheeling Bridge to help mitigate wind vibration problems. It worked! He found a solution in less than 70 years.

Engineering is an art, not a science!

Most engineering solutions came before the theory.

Engineering is an art, not a science!

Most engineering solutions came before the theory.

And, Looking at how the Egyptians, the Romans and the Chinese built their spectacular structures, Structural theories and modern equipments do not seem that important.

Engineering is an art, not a science!

Most engineering solutions came before the theory.

To answer my second question, I may dare say that given the materials we have today, The Romans and the Egyptians would most probably be able to build our bridges too!

But Evolution of bridge technology can only happen if we have the opportunity to build bridges.

But Evolution of bridge technology can only happen if we have the opportunity to build bridges. Two pre-requisites determine if a bridge will be built: 1. Affordability 2. Necessity

But Evolution of bridge technology can only happen if we have the opportunity to build bridges. Two pre-requisites determine if a bridge will be built: 1. Affordability 2. Necessity

Cost vs. Value

COSTS:

VALUE:

Planning Right of Way Construction Maintenance Others

YES!

< = >
NO!

Functional value Community Value Political Value Aesthetic Value Others

COSTS:

VALUE:

Planning Right of Way Construction Maintenance Others

Functional value

< =

Community Value Political Value Aesthetic Value Others

COSTS:

VALUE:

Planning Right of Way Construction Maintenance Related to Others Construction cost index.

Functional value

< =

Community Value Related to the Political LivingValue Standard. Aesthetic Value Others

As our society progresses, the living standard usually increases faster than the construction costs. COSTS: VALUE:

Planning Right of Way Construction Maintenance Related to Others Construction cost index.

Functional value

< =

Community Value Related to the Political LivingValue Standard. Aesthetic Value Others

As our society progresses, the living standard usually increases faster than the construction costs.

That means, some bridges we can not afford today may become affordable tomorrow.

As our society progresses, the living standard usually increases faster than the construction costs.

That means, some bridges we can not afford today may become affordable tomorrow. That also means, we will be building bigger and bigger bridges, as time goes by!

As our society progresses, the living standard usually increases faster than the construction costs.

That means, some bridges we can not afford today may become affordable tomorrow. That also means, we will be building bigger and bigger bridges, as time goes by!
Good news for us bridge engineers!

But Evolution of bridge technology can only happen if we have the opportunity to build bridges. Two pre-requisites determine if a bridge will be built: 1. Affordability 2. Necessity

When do we need a new bridge?

But Evolution of bridge technology can only happen if we have the opportunity to build bridges.
Periods with Great Opportunities: The expansion of the Roman Empire The industrial revolution The re-construction after World War II Currently, in China, India and other developing countries.

But Evolution of bridge technology can only happen if we have the opportunity to build bridges.
Periods with Great Opportunities: The expansion of the Roman Empire - Stone Arch Bridges The industrial revolution - Steel production The re-construction after World War II Currently, in China, India and other developing countries.

But Evolution of bridge technology can only happen if we have the opportunity to build bridges.
The Expansion of the Roman Empire - Stone Arch Bridges The industrial revolution - Steel production The re-construction after World War II cable-stayed bridges, orthotropic decks, prestressed concrete bridges, composite decks

But Evolution of bridge technology can only happen if we have the opportunity to build bridges.
Periods with Great Opportunities: The Expansion of the Roman Empire - Stone Arch Bridges The industrial revolution - Steel production The re-construction after World War II cable-stayed bridges, orthotropic decks, prestressed concrete bridges, composite decks Currently, in China, India and other developing countries.

But Evolution of bridge technology can only happen if we have the opportunity to build bridges.
Periods with Great Opportunities: The Expansion of the Roman Empire - Stone Arch Bridges The industrial revolution - Steel production The re-construction after World War II cable-stayed bridges, orthotropic decks, prestressed concrete bridges, composite decks Currently, in China, India and other developing countries.

We will see !

FR EEW AY C O N STR U C TI O N
China vs. USA

90000 80000 70000 60000 50000 40000 30000 20000 10000 0

Starting Year USA 0 1956 China 1987

Tot al Lengt h ( km )

USA Interstate Only

2007

10

Ca. 1975

China Total

20

30

40

50

Year s af t er St ar t

FR EEW AY C O N STR U C TI O N 90000 80000 70000 60000 50000 40000 30000 20000 10000 0
Starting Year USA 0 1956 China 1987 2007 USA Interstate Only China Total

Tot al Lengt h ( km )

10

20

30
-

40

50

Year s af t er St ar t

My last question today: Currently, we have new materials with very high strength: composites, HPC, etc. What kind of evolution in bridge technology will they bring us ?

My last question today: Currently, we have new materials with very high strength: composites, HPC, etc. What kind of evolution in bridge technology will they bring us ?
They say, We can predict the future based on the past!

My last question today: Currently, we have new materials with very high strength: composites, HPC, etc. What kind of evolution in bridge technology will they bring us ?
They say, We can predict the future based on the past!

For Example.

IN RUSSIA
History may offer good hints for the future!

IN RUSSIA
Here is a historic record of HAIR.

HAIRY

BALD

HAIRY

BALD

HAIRY

BALD

HAIRY

BALD

Obviously the next President must be a hairy one!!

Let us forget about the hairs .. Currently, we have new materials with very high strength: composites, HPC, etc. What kind of evolution in bridge technology will they bring us ?
We know they will definitely enhance the bridge performance, but would they bring out now bridge types?

Coming back to My last question today: Currently, we have new materials with very high strength: composites, HPC, etc. What kind of evolution in bridge technology will they bring us ?
Well, this is the homework for the future generations of engineer, because I still have no idea!

Thank You!