Engineering innovation in civil structures
  • Originally, materials used for bridges included timber, stone, wrought iron and steel.
  • Many design features and innovations were originally created to solve issues with construction using the given materials.

Innovations

  • Primitive beam and suspension bridges allowed for transport across rivers and ravines.
  • Greeks perfect the beam bridges, improving transport for humans and economical factors.
  • Revolutionary Arch Bridge design by the Romans allowed for water trafficand secure transport
  • Truss Girder Bridge in the 16th century improves safety and distance reached (longer spans) of bridges.
  • The introduction of the Box Girder Bridge in the 20th century improved road transport dramatically
  • Introduction of Concrete as a building material after WWII drastically altered bridge design, vastly improving the safety, aesthetics and stability of the bridges.