We see bridges everywhere. Some examples are the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge in New York. Each bridge is designed differently. It could be the material they’re made out of or the different structures. Either way, they are very helpful. Bridges help us connect two pieces of land, making it easier for cars and humans to travel across. In this article, I will be talking about one specific type of bridge: the truss bridge.
The first book that was ever published about the truss bridge was in 1570, when Andrea Palladio published Four Books on Architecture. He described the basic wooden truss bridge designs, the Kingpost and Queenpost designs. Later on, sometime in the late 1700s, builders started constructing many bridges. The United States then led the world in wooden truss bridge design in the 1800s. In 1869, Squire Whipple published his theory on understanding how many loads were carried. This then led to the materials shifting from wood and stone to iron and steel. Since then, many other variations and designs of the truss bridge have emerged; the Howe truss and the Pratt truss are just a few examples.
The truss bridge is mainly constructed of triangles varying in different shapes and sizes. This is because triangles evenly distribute the force, making it easier to support heavier loads. The truss bridge is also the strongest bridge because of its design. Although the truss bridge is very good, the construction must be perfect, they must distribute the weight evenly. Truss bridges are also less attractive to look at and require engineering and architectural specialists to build. Some examples of truss bridges are the Quebec Bridge in Canada and the Tokyo Gate Bridge in Japan.
The truss bridge has become a very popular bridge design through its ability to withstand heavy amounts of weight. This article covers some parts of its history and how it was constructed. Hopefully you have learned a little more about this interesting bridge design!
Related Stories:
https://www.britannica.com/technology/truss-bridge
https://blog.enerpac.com/7-types-of-bridges-every-engineer-should-know-about/#truss-bridge
https://www.shortspansteelbridges.org/steel-truss-bridge-advantages/
Take Action:
https://www.instructables.com/Truss-Bridge-2-Straws-Tape-A-Challenge-Project/
