Contents

#### **Preface XI**


Preface

A bridge is a structure built to span the physical obstacles without closing the way under‐ neath, such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle. Bridge engineering is an engineering discipline branching from civil engineer‐ ing that involves the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of bridges to ensure safe and effective transportation of vehicles, people and goods. The book *Bridge Engineering* includes the main topics and the basic principles of bridge engineering and pro‐ vides the full scope of current information necessary for effective and cost-conscious con‐ temporary bridge. It reflects new engineering and building developments, the most current design methods, and the latest industry standards and policies. It provides a comprehensive overview of the significant characteristics for bridge engineering. It highlights the recent ad‐ vancements, requirements and improvements and details of the latest techniques in the global market. It contains a collection of the latest research developments on the bridge engi‐ neering. It comprehensively covers the basic theory and practice in sufficient depth to pro‐ vide a solid grounding to bridge engineers. It helps readers to maximize effectiveness in all facets of bridge engineering. This professional book as a credible source and a valuable ref‐ erence can be very applicable and useful for all professors, researchers, engineers, practicing professionals, trainee practitioners, students, and others who are interested in the bridge

*Chapter 1* reviews the maglev-elevated guideways. Contrary to the traditional railway trains, there is no direct contact between the maglev vehicle and its guideway. These vehicles travel along the magnetic fields that are established between the vehicle and its guideway. In con‐ trary to the traditional railroad tracks, there is no need for ballast, sleeper, rail pad, and rail fastenings to stabilize the rail gauge. Basically, there are two main elements in a maglev sys‐ tem including its vehicle and the guideway. The guideway is the structure that maglev vehi‐ cles move over it and are supported and guided by it. It is the main element in maglev system and holds a big share of costs for the system. The guideway consists of superstruc‐ tures and substructures. In fact, a guideway consists of a beam and two levitation rails. Guideways can be constructed at grade or elevated including columns with concrete, steel, or hybrid beams. Concrete guideway girders can be reinforced or prestressed. Majority of the existing maglev guideways are elevated and completely built on bridge. Guideway pro‐ vides guidance on the movement of the vehicle to support the vehicle load and transfer the load to the ground. The loading of the maglev vehicle is an important parameter in the prac‐ tical application. Guideway girder is evaluated for different load cases. During the past

three decades, different guideways have been developed, constructed and tested.

*Chapter 2* explores the possibility of designing and constructing a super-long-span bridge with new materials in 2050. The features of this structure include the combination of suspen‐

projects. The book *Bridge Engineering* consists of seven chapters.
