Description

The bridge consists of three sections, two of which act as cantilever supports for the third centre section. The two outer cantilever sections each rest on two supports. The centre span of the bridge rests between these two cantilever bridge sections, leaving it suspended and free from a mechanical ground. A load cell is located at one of the connection points between the outer and centre sections, this measures the force being transmitted between the two sections.

The inner and outer bridge supports/piers support the outer cantilever sections of the bridge, two per section. Two of the supports contain a load cell to read the individual reaction forces at the supports due to the loads applied to the bridge.

A recessed face on the side of each support aligns with the bridge. This allows the distance between the supporting points of the bridge to be measured using the measuring tape on the universal frame.

Loads can be applied to the bridge by placing the different varieties of masses along the top deck of the bridge. These consist of 3 x 250g weight hangers, 8 UDL masses and 1 rolling mass. Any combination of these can be used, within the safe working limits of the experiment.

Features & Benefits

• As the bridge is symmetrical, any combination of reactions can be measured from one side
• Supplied with 8 x Uniformly Distributed Load masses and 1 rolling Mass
• 3 x vertical load cells (1 x under cantilever span anchor point,
• 1 x under cantilever span and 1 x between cantilever span and the centre span)
• Supplied with Armfield structures software as standard

Experimental Content

• Demonstration of a suspended centre span bridge
• Reaction forces due to uniformly distributed loads and point loadings
• Influence line for the reaction force of a centre span bridge