BRIDGE ENGINEERING

Instructor: Professor M.S. Cheung

Course description
A considerable amount of research work on highway bridges has been carried out around the world over the past several decades, especially in North America. This let to the development of the first limit states bridge design code in Canada in 1979. Recently, a new Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code has been published which includes several advanced analysis and design methods as well as new construction materials, such as FRP. More and more countries have adopted the limit states design philosophy and Canadian code criteria for the design of their highway bridges.

The objectives of this course are three folded:
1) Introduction of the limit states design method;
2) Discussion of design philosophy and code requirements and
3) Examples of analysis and design of bridge super-structure components, using limit states design method.
This course will be focused on the bridge superstructure only. No attempt has been made to deal with the bridge substructure or foundation problems.
The course will mainly follow the current Canadian Highway Bridge Design code; although other codes such as AASHTO and British code will also be referenced. The course will cover the following major areas:
Review of limit states design method; legal loads and highway design loads; load combinations; concrete deck design; load distribution theory; refined methods of analysis; impact and dynamics; load capacity rating of existing bridges; computer analysis methods; fatigue and brittle fracture; construction bracings, etc.

Lecture Number Subject

Lecture	Subject	Lecture note
Lecture 1	Introduction - bridge types, trends, economics, aesthetic, and alternative designs	Chapter 1 Notes;       Appendix to Chapter 1
Lecture 2	Limit states design	Chapter 2 Notes
Lecture 3	Legal loads, Highway design loads and load factors	Chapter 3 Notes
Lecture 4	Loads and Load combinations	Chapter 4 Notes
Lecture 5	Bridge Deck Slabs	Chapter 5 Notes Appendix : Table 8.11.2.2
Lecture 6	Simplified Methods of Analysis	Chapter 6 Notes
Lecture 7	Refined methods of analysis	Chapter 7 Notes
Lecture 8	Impact and Vibrations	Chapter 8 Notes
Lecture 9	Fatigue and Brittle Fracture	Chapter 9 Notes
Lecture 10	Computer Analysis	Chapter 10 Notes
Lecture 11	Diaphragms and Cross Frames	Chapter 11 Notes
Lecture 12	Load Capacity Rating of Existing Bridges and Rehabilitation Techniques	Chapter 12 Notes