Trussed Bridges

Year : 2025 | Volume : 12 | Issue : 01 | Page : 11 16
    By

    Birendra Kumar Singh,

Abstract

Trussed railway bridges offer a unique structural advantage by efficiently distributing the load between the truss members and the girder. In such designs, a significant portion of the load is carried by the truss members, which reduces the stress on the bridge girder itself. As a result, the girder in a trussed bridge can be constructed with a reduced thickness compared to bridges that lack a truss system. This optimization not only minimizes the use of materials for the girder but also contributes to the overall cost-effectiveness of the structure. Another critical advantage of trussed bridges is their ability to span longer distances, making them particularly suitable for large-scale infrastructure projects such as railway bridges crossing rivers, valleys, or other challenging terrains. The combination of trusses and girders enhances the overall stability and durability of the bridge while maintaining efficiency in material use. Trussed systems are also highly adaptable, as they can be designed to withstand dynamic loads, such as those imposed by passing trains, ensuring safety and reliability under variable conditions. Additionally, the modular nature of trussed bridges facilitates easier construction and maintenance. The individual components of the truss can be prefabricated and assembled on-site, reducing construction time and labor costs. Furthermore, their design enables them to resist deformation and stress concentration, ensuring a longer service life compared to other bridge types without trusses. Overall, trussed railway bridges represent an ideal balance between structural integrity, material efficiency, and adaptability for diverse engineering challenges. Their capacity to bear heavy loads over long spans makes them a preferred choice for modern railway bridge design, ensuring safety, sustainability, and economic viability in infrastructure development.

Keywords: Railway bridge girders, trussed bridge structures, long-span bridges, load distribution, structural efficiency

[This article belongs to Trends in Transport Engineering and Applications ]

How to cite this article:
Birendra Kumar Singh. Trussed Bridges. Trends in Transport Engineering and Applications. 2025; 12(01):11-16.
How to cite this URL:
Birendra Kumar Singh. Trussed Bridges. Trends in Transport Engineering and Applications. 2025; 12(01):11-16. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/ttea/article=2025/view=209361


References

  1. Baylor University. (2008). Analysis of structures [online]. Baylor University. Available from: https://web.ecs.baylor.edu/faculty/grady/_29_trusses.pdf.
  2. (2020). Analysis of forces in a truss bridge – Lesson [online]. TeachEngineering. Available from: https://www.teachengineering.org/lessons/view/ind-2472-analysis-forces-truss-bridge-lesson.
  3. (2015). How to analyze a truss bridge [online]. Instructables. Available from: https://www.instructables.com/How-to-Analyze-a-Truss-Bridge/.
  4. North Carolina, Department of Transportation (NCDOT). (2025). NCDOT: Truss Bridges. [online]. NCDOT. Available from: https://www.ncdot.gov/initiatives-policies/Transportation/bridges/
    historic-bridges/bridge-types/Pages/truss.aspx.
  5. Truss Analysis. (2024). Free Truss Analysis Calculator. [online]. Trussanalysis.com. Available from: https://trussanalysis.com.
  6. Ubani Obinna (2023). Structural Analysis and Design of Truss Bridges. [online] Structville. Available from: https://structville.com/design-of-truss-bridges.
  7. Garrett Boon. (2008). Truss Series. Truss Design Overview [online]. Garrett’s Bridges. Available from: https://garrettsbridges.com/design/trussdesign.
  8. Truss bridge [online]. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truss_bridge.
  9. Rajib Giri. (2021). Analysis of trusses. Method of joints. Bridge engineering [online]. YouTube. STRUCTURE-TECH. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?pp=ygUII2FudHJ1c
    3M%3D&v=PlPkxXCIIeo.
  10. Morgenstern N, editor. Structural Analysis and Design of Truss Bridges. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2015. p. 132–45.
  11. Phú Xuân Thái. (2024). Design & Investigative Project [Online]. Instructed by: Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Trinh. Advanced Program of Civil Engineering K49. University of Transport and Communication (UTC), Division of Urban Transport and Coastal Engineering. Available from: https://www.scribd.
    com/document/210227807/Truss-Bridge-Design.
  12. Cuff DJ, Santoni BG. Comparison of anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty vs. reverse shoulder arthroplasty for the treatment of post-capsulorrhaphy arthropathy. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2018;27:e120–1. DOI: 10.1016/j.jse.2018.02.005.
  13. Washington State Department of Transportation. Bridge Design Manual (LRFD) M 23-50.23 [Online]. Washington Engineering and Regional Operations, Bridge and Structures Office; July 2024. Available from: https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/publications/manuals/fulltext/m23-50/bdm.pdf.
  14. Timoshenko S, Gere JM. Theory of Elastic Stability. 3rd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2009. p. 75–80.
  15. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Deflection and Stress Calculations in Structural Engineering: Methods for Trusses. Gaithersburg, Maryland, U.S.: National Institute of Standards and Technology; 2021.
  16. Hearn EJ. Mechanics of Materials: An Introduction to the Theory of Elasticity. 5th ed. Oxford, United Kingdom: Pergamon Press; 2006. p. 56–70.
  17. Dovichi M, Zhang H, Maccaferri F. Bridge Analysis and Engineering: A Study of the Forces Acting on Trusses. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press; 2017. p. 204–12.
  18. Sharma R, Sood G, Verma A. Analysis and design of truss bridges: A comprehensive approach. J Civil Eng. 2020;12:118–33. DOI: 10.1016/j.jce.2020.01.009.
  19. Schroeder JR, Anderson DW. Advancements in bridge engineering: Trusses and load distribution. Eng Struct. 2021;55:88–102. DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2021.05.003.

Regular Issue Subscription Original Research
Volume 12
Issue 01
Received 27/01/2025
Accepted 02/02/2025
Published 04/02/2025
Publication Time 8 Days



My IP

PlumX Metrics