ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY

AAIT

1) When do we have to construct bridges in a highway or railway project? How do

you decide to use a bridge, a culvert or a low level water crossing at a given
site?
Ans: a bridge is a structure providing passage over an obstacle. The obstacle may be a river, road or railway. Depending
on the depth, size and type of obstacle we got, economy and aesthetic we need we can decide what kind of crossing we have
to use.
2) What are the economic and social benefits of bridge construction?
Ans: Socially, bridges enable people to interact, trade with one another, live and work together.
Generally, bridges aid the social and economic improvements of the locations around cities and towns which are established
near river.
3) What are the objectives in bridge design? How do we attain each of the
objectives?
Ans: the objective of bridge design are:-
 Safety
 Serviceability
 Constructability
 Economy
 Aesthetics
Therefore, We attain the objective of bridge design by design the bridge for a specific limit state at which the bridge can be fit
to the site.
4) Why should a bridge engineer worry about safety and aesthetics in his design?
Give general guidelines that if followed would be result in a bridge of improved
appearances?
Ans: Since much life is on his/her hand, safety must get more attention during the design. Because if the bridge is not safe
they will lost too much life besides money that we lose due to failure.
Because bridge is a credit for one designer and, since many structural components of the bridge are the largest parts and
seen first they have to worry about aesthetics.
So, the designer should give attention for the following points when he/she design to have good aesthetics :
 Proportion and lines: means all members should bear in a closed relationship to each
other.
 Pleasing shapes
 Compatibility

5) Give the design philosophy of AASHTO 2005 used in a bridge design. What is
each limit state concerned with?
Ans: Bridges shall be designed for specified limit state to achieve the objective of safety, serviceability, economy,
constructability and aesthetics.
 Strength limit state:-ensuring the strength and stability both local and global.
 Service limit state:-is a restriction on stress,deformation and crack width under regular
service condition.
 Fatigue and fracture limit state:-fatigue is restriction on stress range as a result of a
single design truck and fracture taken as a material toughness and requirement.
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AAIT

 Extreme event limit state: to ensure structural survival of bridge during major earthquake
or flood.
6) What is the significant of investigation for bridges in design? What data are
gathered during investigation? List the criteria used to select the best bridge
site. Does the alignment of the road affect bridge site selection in any way?
Ans: To select a suitable site from possible alternative at which bridge can be built economically, safety and aesthetics.
Best bridge site criteria:-
 If the river is meandering river the best crossing site would be at the nodal point
 Where the flow is steady flow
 Has well defined and stable high bank above flood level
 Has uniform flow
 Have reasonably straight approaches
 Has good foundation condition
 Narrow channel
 Dees not require excessive river training works
N.B: Yes! if the span length of the bridge is below 60m the road alignment affects the bridge site selection.
7) After site selection, give the factor affecting span selection? How do these
factors affect span selection?
Ans: after site selection there are some factors which can affect span selection:
 Economic span:-costs of super structure increases the number of span increases but the cost of sub structure
decreases as the number of span decreases.
 Hydraulic requirement : the bridge should be capable of to pass the flood during design flood.
 Location of pier: piers should be located in such manner that they can provide the required linear water way and
piers should be placed parallel to the flow and at minimum velocity of flow in order to have minimum obstruction
and scour respectively.
 Free board: to allow transportation of debris.
 Grade requirement: is governed by capacity of heaviest vehicle to climb, vertical curve and sight distance.
8) How do we estimate design flood level for design? When do we use HWM? How
do u determine HWM?
Ans: As we now our country have no recorded data of flood retune period b/c of this we determine design flood by two
methods those are: By asking old peoples which are found in that area and by using empirical formulas. We use high water
mark to determine the height of the piers, the location of the abutment, and depth of the foundation. HWM can be determine
by doing river survey.
9) What are the factors to be considered in bridge type selection?
Ans: factors to be considered during bridge type selection are :-
 Geometric condition of the site
 Subsurface condition of the site
 Functional requirement
 Aesthetics
 Economics and ease of maintenance
 Legal consideration

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ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY
AAIT

10) What are the advantages and disadvantages of concrete and steel
superstructure construction? What the advantages of steel-concrete composite
super structure construction?
Ans: Concrete
Advantage:
 We can shape it as we need
 Material are available locally
 Low maintenance cost
 Long life
 Better resistance to earth quack due to dumping effects
Dis advantage:
 High own weight
 Requires form work
 Long time of construction
 Difficult to expand width
Steel
Advantage
 Small own weight
 Shorter construction period
 Light superstructure
 High tensile strength
Disadvantage:
 Corrosion
 High maintenance cost
 Fatigue problem
Steel-concrete composite
Advantage:
 High tensile strength
 Corrosion resistant
 Easy to construct
Dis advantage:
 High maintenance cost
 High initial investment
11) What are the advantages of continuous reinforced concrete bridge construction
over multiple simple span concrete bridges?
Ans: advantages of continuous reinforced concrete bridge over multiple simple span concrete bridge are:
 Less number of bearings than simply supported
 Reduce weight on the structures
 High stiffness
 Small deflection
 Reduced width of pier
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AAIT

 Requires less number of expansion

 Lesser depth of girder
 Better architectural appearance
12) What types of bridges best suit a curved alignment?
Ans: Box girder and slab bridge are best types of bridge for curved because of:
 The higher resistance for torsion shear stress
 Pleasant appearance
 Can readily built on curve
13) Describe the bridge types for which analysis method based on small
deformation theory is used? When should large deformation theory be used? How
are the dynamic effects accounted for in each of these two methods of analysis?
Ans: For Bridge which are small to medium span bridges we use analysis method because the effect of dynamic vehicular
load and other dynamic loads is very small when we compare with the effect on long span bridges.
For bridges which are sensitive to the dynamic effects of vehicular load those are long span bridges such as cable stayed
suspension bridge. In small deformation theory dynamic magnification factor be used in order to account the dynamic load
effects because its results small deformation and it was analyzed by static analysis. And in large deformation theory dynamic
analysis should be carried out because the resulting large deformation does not account by the dynamic magnification
factors.

14) What factors affect load distribution in Reinforced Concrete Girder Bridge?
Ans: Factors affect load distribution in reinforced concrete girder are
 The stiffness of the deck
 The stiffness of the girder
 The stiffness of the diaphragm
 The position and method of connectivity of the diaphragm
15) What function do abutments and piers serve? What factor affects abutments
and pier type selection? Give the different types of abutments and piers and
situations for which each is used. Show each type with a sketch.
Ans: Function of abutment:-
 supporting the one end of the first or last span
 supporting the approach slab if necessary which is used to avoid settlements of the approach
embankment.
 retaining earth under the approach road way.
Selection of type is depends on:-
 The magnitude of load which is carried by the abutment
 Height of abutment
 Scour depth
 Ease and cost of construction.
Types:-
i. Gravity abutment
Used for abutment of small heights and the stability is achieved by its own weight

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ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY
AAIT

Fig. 1 Gravity abutment

ii. Cantilever abutment :-is resisted by the depth of embedment For larger heights
iii. Counter fort
- For larger heights for which cantilever abutment is uneconomical.

Fig. counter fort abutment

iv. Stub
- used at the top of an embankment or slop.
v. Spill
vi. Reinforced earth
Piers are structure with function of:-

- Support superstructure at intermediate points between abutments for bridges with two or more spans.
- carry their own weight and
- transmit all loads to foundation soil

Selection of type is depends on:-

- The form and size of super structure
- Aesthetics and
- Economy

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ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY
AAIT

Types:-
i. Solid wall pier
- Used at water crossings
ii. Hammer head pier used
- Used for high piers
iii. Column bent pier
iv. Pile bent pier

16) What are the causes of scour? Why do we need to estimate scour depth of
bridge sites? Why do we need to protect scour in our bridge design and
construction?
Ans: scour means the erosive effect of water flow on river bed or bank.
The causes are
 Changes to the river channel upstream or downstream.
 due to high flow of the river
 Reduction in channel width at bridge site
 Turbulence
Protection is required when some restriction is made to the flow of design flood at bridge. Since, half of bridge failure is due
to scour and bridge works may alter the scour pattern by restricting the free flow of water this is why we need to protect
17) What are the two most commonly used methods to determine depth of general
scour at bridges? How is scour depth determined in each of these methods? How
are depth of local scour determined at piers and abutment?
Ans: there are two commonly used methods to determine depth of general scour:
i. The area velocity method
By assuming flow through the structure is to be equal to unrestricted flow calculated on the
basis of velocity measurement.
ii. The competent velocity method
By draw a probable scour line

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ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY
AAIT

18) What functions bearings serve? What factor affects bearing type selection?
What are the problems we usually encounter in bearing? How do we maintain
them to avoid these problems? Why are electrometric bearing favored compared
to other types? What do u check for elastomeric bearing during inspection? What
factors are considered in determining types and sizes of railing?
Ans: functions of bearing are:-
 Transmit superstructure load to sub structure
 Selection depends on type of super structure and span length
 During earthquake the roller and rocker may be displaced off abutment and piers To avoid this suitable guide should be
provided
 Because it is very strong in compression and weak in shear thus allowing horizontal displacement.
Factors considered in determining types and sizes of railing are:-
 type of the railing ( traffic, pedestrian, or combination)
 design truck load
 design speed
 location or site of the bridge
19) In what circumstances are fords and bed level causeways the best solution for
river crossing? When is it best to use culverts? What are the points to be
considered in culvert location and alignment? How do you protect erosion from
occurring at culverts?
Ans: For sites where traffic volumes are low and in area where the depth of flow is not exceeding g 150mm in most of the year or
where a reasonable short detour provides access to an all-weather bridge. Culverts are suitable for openings less than 2m 2.
Points to be considered are
 Where a road crosses a valley, the lowest point requires a vent
 Where there is an established stream, the culvert should follow the existing alignment
 The gradient of the culvert should be the same as the gradient of the stream
 Measurement may be necessary to ensure that the water course doesn’t move.
We can protect erosion on culvert by reducing the gradient, installing check-drains, building a drop inlet and by providing culverts on
straight reach of rivers.
20) Why do we have to continuously inspect bridges and maintain them? What
should the contents of bridge file (bridge book) be? What are the different
types of inspections and the bridge types these are carried out? What are the
different trouble spots to be checked for deficiencies? How do you decide
between maintenance and rehabilitation to carry out for a bridge?
Ans: There are three types of inspection
 Routine:- for short span bridges
 In-depth:- for all super and substructure. Specially for old bridges and
 Special:- for all types of bridge in which after special events occurred such as earthquake, wind and flood
Deterioration and crack in concrete, evidence of foundation settlement and movement, metalwork cracks, loose connections, damaged
members, poorly framed structural details, excessive vibration and the like

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