Engineering – Bridges By Design

Part of the Series: Show Me Science Series - Advanced

Engineers and architects are creating bridges that combine the best of both art and design. Bridges are no longer just a tool to get from one side of the river to the other. Some bridges have the goal of being aesthetically pleasing and efficient for pedestrians. Others rely on the cantilever design to span a distance equivalent to three and a half jumbo jets. Bridges are often classified by their structure and how the forces of tension, compression, bending, torsion and shear are distributed. In this program, students will learn how designs vary depending on the function of the bridge, the environmental factors, the materials, and technology used to construct them.