Media Kit
Common Bridge Types
The following product categories may be used in the construction of a steel bridge:
Sheet Piles:
Sheet pile is a hot-rolled structural shape with interlocks on the flange tips. The interlocks permit individual sections to be connected in order to form a continuous steel wall which is earth tight and virtually water resistant. Sheet piling is transportable and is a fast and economical solution for a durable, long lasting wall system. It may be used for bridge abutments (permanent) or for cofferdams used to construct piers for bridges (temporary). Sheet piling is typically available in 12, 10, 8, and 7 gauges in lengths to 50 feet. (Big-R specs)
Plate Girder:
Steel plate girders are typically shop welded. A minimum flange size of 12 by ¾” and a minimum web thickness of 7/16” is recommended to control flange and web distortions and simplify fabrication and erection. Plate girders can be used for typical span lengths of 80 to over 300 feet.
Stay-in-place Forms:
A galvanized corrugated metal form can be used to construct the bridge deck of concrete or asphalt. Such a system, reduces dead load and provides a ggod work environment
Bars:
Steel bars may be used to construct a steel grid deck. Steel Grid can be left open or filled with concrete. They are useful when light decks are desired. While an open steel grid has less dead load than one filled with concrete, it does not offer as good a riding surface and can be prone to poor skid resistance. An open grid deck system is also susceptible to corrosion from the elements and chemicals.
Wide Flange Shapes:
The most common type of rolled beam used as a primary member in highway bridges is the wide-flange variety. To expand a wide flange beams span length, a cover plate can be added. A wide flange beam bridge can span 20 to nearly 100 feet.
H-Piles:
Piles (steel H-piles) are used when the soil under a footing cannot provide adequate support for the substructure. They are available in two yield strengths. They can penetrate to bedrock where other piles would be destroyed by driving. Due to the light weight and ease of splicing, they are useful where great depths of unstable material must be penetrated before reaching the desired load carrying stratum and in locations where reduced clearances require use of short sections. They are useful where piles must be closely spaced to carry a heavy load because they displace a minimal amount of material when driven.
