Top 3 Types of Bridge-Building Techniques

Bridges have been around since the ancient time. One of the initial bridge designs was basically felled trees, which were used to moving over the ditches and rivers. With time, different techniques were discovered which made use of stones, rocks, mortar, and others. These techniques resulted in much stronger and extended bridges.

With technology, bridge-building companies have come a long way in introducing new methods of construction; which made us of steel and aluminium. The following are a few of these techniques that are used commonly for building bridges. Keep reading to know more.

Incremental launching method of bridge construction

This method of bridge construction is used for bridge decks greater than 250m in length. In this method, the deck of the bridge is built in sections by pushing the structure outwards. Incremental launching method is most suited to the rapid construction of bridges. A few of the reasons for opting for this method are speed, improved safety, reduced damage to the environment, etc 

Precast method of bridge construction

This method of bridge construction is generally used for short span bridges which range from 5m to 50m. These types of bridges are basically railway or motorway bridges. A few of the advantages of using precast elements are mainly related to fabrication, which is conducted in a plant that produces more consistency in quality products. This method also does not require any transverse beams or diaphragms. Due to this, construction companies would not have to spend too much time and also save costs (Engineering Civil, What are the main potential benefits in using the bridge form of precast pre-stressed beams supporting in-situ concrete top slab?, n.d.).

Balanced cantilever method of bridge construction

Another bridge launching  method which is commonly used by construction companies is the balanced cantilever. This method is suitable for bridges which have spans ranging from 50 to 250 m. In this method, the cast-in-situ process is used, whereby segments are progressively cast on site in their final positions. This method is often considered cost-effective when it comes to construction of long span concrete bridges. Along with bridges, this technique can be used for various other structures where height, topography and geotechnical conditions render uneconomical.

These are some of the common techniques which are used for the construction of bridges. Businesses who want to know more about these techniques should consider contacting a reputed construction service provider.