**1. Introduction**

If a society wants all its function working efficiently, it requires many elements that meet its needs. Basic functions such as food, water, electricity and transportation require all types of structures to fulfill its purpose. Infrastructure embraces all the buildings that support the goods and services of the community, with an integral and optimal functioning.

All the services of the society require some type of support to be carried out. An engineer, architect or lawyer needs a space to develop their businesses and support its clients; a merchant needs a highway to transport their products to their final

destination; supplying water to any destination requires pipes, pipelines and tanks. There are many examples where each service requires some type of infrastructure.

16 categories in the infrastructure: Aviation, bridges, dams, drinking, water, energy hazardous waste, inland waterways, levees, parks, ports, rail, roads, schools, solid waste, transit and wastewater [1]. Due to a wide variety structures, the

Related to all structures used by the people, products, goods or services to move

ii. *Maritime:* Structures used by ships or vessels, for example ports and channels.

Related to all structures intended for the generation and distribution of any

iii. *Alternative energy sources:* Wind towers, nuclear plants and geothermal plants.

types of energy. Depending on the energy type, it can be divided into:

Structures intended for water distribution and supply, divided into:

i. *Water distribution network:* Related to water supply, distribution and irrigation. Examples include open channels, pipelines and aqueducts.

ii. *Drainage networks:* Related to distribution and storage purposes, including gray water from industry and rain. Examples include sewer and drainage.

iii. *Waste water treatment plants:* Related to structures with waste water cleaning purposes, including removing sediments to biological cleaning process.

iv. *Water storage:* Related to structures to retain water. Examples include dams

i. *Cellphone network:* All structures supporting signal development for cellphone

Related to all structures intended for telecommunication industry:

ii. *Television, radio and internet network:* Related to antennas for signal

operations, including antennas and signal structures.

distribution via cable wires and wireless signal.

i. *Electricity:* Electrical stations and supply networks.

ii. *Oil and gas:* Refineries and pipelines.

forward its final destination. Depending on the type of transport, these can be

infrastructure can be classified according to its use.

*Bridges: Structures and Materials, Ancient and Modern DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.90718*

i. *Land:* City roads, highways, train rails and bridges.

a. Transportation infrastructure

iii. *Aerial:* Airports and heliports.

b. Energy infrastructure

c. Hydraulic infrastructure

and storage tanks.

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d. Telecommunication infrastructure

divided into three categories:

As a general example, consider the construction of an international airport. The main purpose is the aerial communication of the city, which can be used for traveling, tourism and transportation of goods. Listing all the needs of any airplane, there will be at least the following requirements to fulfill:


According the previous example, there are many construction elements and buildings that enhance the aerial communication. The combinations of these structures contribute with the airport to operate efficiently. This type of infrastructure can contribute enabling tourism, transportation, productivity and employment opportunities, increasing the economic activity. Therefore, the infrastructure has a wide variety of structures which can be part of a specific sector and fulfill a simple function.

If any infrastructure element of the airport fails, there will be issues with its functionality; for example, if any bridge is closed due any malfunction or maintenance, the transport of the passengers, goods and services will be affected.

Bridges have a special place in transportation infrastructure due its direct relationship with other places. These structures have the purpose to carry on the traffic loads of the highway, crossing any obstacle and perform an effective communication between two destinations. Since there are many variables to consider in the performance of the bridges, such geometry, span clearance, traffic flow and available materials, there are many options of bridges to choose.

Planning, design and construction process for any bridge looks logical and necessary steps, looking for the good behavior of the structure during any traffic load or resisting flood or seismic events. However, maintenance process guarantee the life of the structure, which applied correctly, will avoid any closure of the bridge and traffic issues.

On this chapter, the main purpose is to focus on bridges as part of land transportation infrastructure, its behavior and the performance during the design, construction and maintenance process.

## **2. Infrastructure**

Basically, all the buildings are part of the infrastructure and fulfill a specific function. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers (A.S.C.E.), there are 16 categories in the infrastructure: Aviation, bridges, dams, drinking, water, energy hazardous waste, inland waterways, levees, parks, ports, rail, roads, schools, solid waste, transit and wastewater [1]. Due to a wide variety structures, the infrastructure can be classified according to its use.

a. Transportation infrastructure

destination; supplying water to any destination requires pipes, pipelines and tanks. There are many examples where each service requires some type of infrastructure. As a general example, consider the construction of an international airport. The

main purpose is the aerial communication of the city, which can be used for traveling, tourism and transportation of goods. Listing all the needs of any airplane,

there will be at least the following requirements to fulfill:

*Infrastructure Management and Construction*

b. Control tower for monitoring the air traffic flow.

f. Fuel supply and storage for the airplanes.

a simple function.

and traffic issues.

**2. Infrastructure**

**92**

construction and maintenance process.

a. Landing strip to perform effectively the air traveling.

c. Airport building to perform all administrative activities.

d. Hangar for airplane maintenance and storage purposes.

e. Water supply, storage, pipelines and sewage for the entire place.

g. Land highways and bridges to connect the city with the airport.

According the previous example, there are many construction elements and buildings that enhance the aerial communication. The combinations of these structures contribute with the airport to operate efficiently. This type of infrastructure can contribute enabling tourism, transportation, productivity and employment opportunities, increasing the economic activity. Therefore, the infrastructure has a wide variety of structures which can be part of a specific sector and fulfill

If any infrastructure element of the airport fails, there will be issues with its functionality; for example, if any bridge is closed due any malfunction or maintenance, the transport of the passengers, goods and services will be affected.

Bridges have a special place in transportation infrastructure due its direct relationship with other places. These structures have the purpose to carry on the traffic loads of the highway, crossing any obstacle and perform an effective communication between two destinations. Since there are many variables to consider in the performance of the bridges, such geometry, span clearance, traffic flow and avail-

Planning, design and construction process for any bridge looks logical and necessary steps, looking for the good behavior of the structure during any traffic load or resisting flood or seismic events. However, maintenance process guarantee the life of the structure, which applied correctly, will avoid any closure of the bridge

On this chapter, the main purpose is to focus on bridges as part of land transportation infrastructure, its behavior and the performance during the design,

Basically, all the buildings are part of the infrastructure and fulfill a specific function. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers (A.S.C.E.), there are

h. Electricity towers and electrical station to supply energy.

able materials, there are many options of bridges to choose.

Related to all structures used by the people, products, goods or services to move forward its final destination. Depending on the type of transport, these can be divided into three categories:

i. *Land:* City roads, highways, train rails and bridges.

ii. *Maritime:* Structures used by ships or vessels, for example ports and channels.

iii. *Aerial:* Airports and heliports.

b. Energy infrastructure

Related to all structures intended for the generation and distribution of any types of energy. Depending on the energy type, it can be divided into:

i. *Electricity:* Electrical stations and supply networks.


Structures intended for water distribution and supply, divided into:


Related to all structures intended for telecommunication industry:

