bridge engineering - lusher charter school (november 2016)

Bridge Engineering

Lusher Charter School

November 4, 2016

Dave Kanger, P.E. / Stacey Carr, P.E.

Associates

Modjeski and Masters, Inc.

So… What is a Bridge? bridge(noun):

A bridge is a structure carrying a road, path, railroad, or canal across

a river, ravine, road, railroad or other obstacle.

So… What is (also) a Bridge? bridge(noun):

A bridge can also be a time, place, or means of connection or

transition.

So…What is Engineering? engineering (noun):

The branch of science and technology concerned with

the design, building, and use of engines, machines, and

structures.

• The work done by, or the occupation of, an engineer.

• The action of working artfully and professionally to bring

something about.

So…What is Bridge Engineering?

The field of science and technology applied to the design and

construction of a structure carrying a road, path, railroad,

or canal across a river, ravine, road, railroad or other obstacle.

So…What is (also) Bridge

Engineering?

If a bridge can also simply be a means of connection, then bridge

engineering is also a recognition of the history of human

civilization as a story of travel and transportation.

So…What is (also) Bridge

Engineering?

The building of crossings in the form of bridges has always been a

measure of technological development of a people.

So…How do Bridges and

Bridge Engineering Work?

1. Need

2. Location

3. Material

4. Analysis / Design

5. Construction

Need The need could be driven by many different sources.

• New demands: development or planned development of

an area or migration of people and goods which require

transportation

• Changing demands: existing conditions good for

yesterday no longer meet what is necessary today or

tomorrow.

Need

Map of Rock Island, IL, 1889 (H. Wellge)

Map of Rock Island, IL

2016 (Bing)

Location The location could be driven by many different sources.

• Population density

• Favorable site conditions for the structure

• Vicinity of other alternate routes

Location

Material In our application of science and technology, we use many

different kinds of materials.

We need to understand the behavior of everything that

goes into the completed structure.

Material

Material • Concrete

• Steel

• Timber

• Steel Wire / Cable

• Connections

– High-strength Bolts

– Rivets

– Welding

• Exotic materials

– Bearings

– Collision protection

Material

Huey P. Long Bridge Widening

“We work with

steel...”

Material


“...Concrete...”

“...and even both together.”

Analysis and Design “...We deal with people.”

“...but also have

homework to do.”

Construction


“Do you understand

how things go together...

...In complex ways?”

Bridge Engineering (also) is...

About Solutions

Whatever structure we design and will get built needs to

take into account the diverse elements which will

impose demands on it.

• Vulnerability to earthquakes

• Vessel collisions

• Scour

• High Winds...

• ...and unfortunately, acts of terrorism...

• ...or other problems...


About Solutions

...Man-eating Lions!


Part of Larger Civil Engineering Field We apply the practice of several specific fields of

engineering including:

• Structual Engineering

• Geotechnical Engineering

• Traffic and Transportation Engineering

Along with...

• Economics

• Law

• Public Policy

• Culture/Aesthetics

Dragon Bridge (Vietnamese: Cầu Rồng) is a bridge over

the River Han at Da Nang, Vietnam

Why Civil Engineering? “Civil engineers make civilization possible.”

http://www.asce.org/People-and-

Projects/Projects/Projects/

Why Would You Choose Bridge

Engineering?

So What’s the Bottom Line? Stability: When things are good, people build. When times are tough, the

public looks to “shovel ready” and other large-scale public works projects.

Job Security: The interstate highway system began construction in 1956.

Much of our nation’s infrastructure is approaching its original design life.

There is a need to extend what we have, and build or rebuild new.

ASCE’s 2013 Infrastucture Report Card received a “D+” average! There is a

need and it’s growing. (www.infrastructurereportcard.org/ )

Personal Satisfaction: If you want to help build great things that everyone

sees, helps entire communities, cities, regions, states, or even countries, then

this is your profession.

Job Security http://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/

The Future

(Source: http://www.infrastructurereportcard.org)

So What’s (Really) the Bottom Line? Income. . . First a quick word about the typical measurements you might find.

Median: The numerical value separating the higher half of a sample from the

lower half. The middle number in a sorted list. Ex:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5: The median is “3.”

2, 4, 5, 7, 9: The median is “5.”

2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 5, 100: The median is “3.”

Average: Also known as “arithmetic mean,” this is the middle value of a

data set. Does not necessarily need to exist within the sample. Ex:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5: The average is (1+2+3+4+5)/5 = “3.”

2, 4, 5, 7, 9: The average is (2+4+5+7+9)/5 = “5.4.”

2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 5, 100: The average is (2+2+2+3+4+5+100)/7 = “16.9.”

So What’s REALLY the Bottom Line? Income (www.mtu.edu, payscale.com, www.census.gov, and www.online.wsj.com): “Year after year, engineering tops the list of (undergraduate) majors with the

highest starting salary!”

Starting, Profession, Avg. Top 10% Unemployment,

Median Median in Profession (2010)

Civil: $53,100 $77,990 $119,620 3.9%

Mechanical: $58,400 $79,320 $119,950 4.2%

Chemical: $64,500 $92,390 $146,650 2.2%

Electrical: $61,300 $85,920 $131,660 5.4%

Biomedical: $53,800 $84,670 $134,150 not tracked

Individual College Grads $43,143 (2003 census)

N’tl Household Income $45,018 (2003 census)

N’tl Unemployment 9.6% (2010)

The bottom line is really this:

“Our work is rewarding. It is satisfying to see our projects complete.

Our profession is the story of hard work being rewarded.”

American Society of Civil Engineers’

“New Faces of Engineering,” 2016

http://www.asce.org/new_faces_of_civil_en

gineering_collegiate_edition/

“ASCE’s New Faces of Civil

Engineering recognition

programs highlight the next

generation of civil engineering

leaders. By showcasing young,

diverse, talented engineers the

program shows that

engineering is an exciting

profession open to everyone.”

We need more engineers...

You can be next.

Any Questions?