Many different types of engineers work in designing bridges to suit all of our different needs. From mechanical to civil and even materials engineers, many professionals work in creating better and safer bridges. Read the following articles to learn more about bridges and engineering.

•  Forces in Bridges
•  Types of Bridges
•  Famous Bridges of the World
•  Bridge Disasters
•  Types of Engineering

Forces in Bridges

Many people do not notice the different structures of bridges and may not realize how these different designs serve very specific purposes.  Bridges require much more analyzing and decision making than many people realize.  Often times, designers not only consider safety and practicality but also the appearance of the bridge and its aesthetical beauty. 

Bridges are essential to our everyday life and possibly some of the oldest examples of engineering available. As early as 2000 years ago, the Romans built stone bridges to allow travel over bodies of water. Today, there are millions of bridges around the world that use different designs; however, they can be divided into three main categories – beam, arch, and suspension bridges. The main distinction between the three categories is the difference in span, or the distance between the columns or pillars of the bridge.  The span will depend on how the compressive and tension forces are distributed in the structure of the bridge. Below you can see how these forces are distributed in the three types of bridges (pictures from How Stuff Works - Bridges):

Forces in Beam Bridge

 Forces in Arch Bridge

Forces in Suspension Bridge