General Information

Figure 1 shows a single-track railway reinforced concrete through-arch bridge.

Reinforced concrete through-arch bridge.
Reinforced concrete through-arch bridge over a river.
Number of spans 2
Main span ≅ 43 m
Arch rise ≅ 7 m
Deck width ≅ 4 m

Suspenders

Figure 2 shows a side view of a main span.

Main span.
Suspenders of a reinforced concrete through-arch bridge

The suspenders are made of reinforced concrete.

  • What are some advantages and disadvantages to using reinforced concrete as suspension material?
  • The suspenders are marked in figure 3.

    Suspenders.
    Suspenders layout of a reinforced concrete through-arch bridge

    The distance (s) between the suspenders D and E is shorter than the remaining suspenders' spacing.

  • What are some possible structural and/or constructive reasons for the above shown suspender arrangement?