Culvert is a tunnel carrying a stream under a road or railway. A culvert may act as a bridge for traffic to pass on it. They are typically found in a natural flow of water and serves the purpose of a bridge or a current flow controller.

Culvert is provided under roads and highways for a crossing of water, as road embankment cannot be allowed to obstruct the water flow. The culvert is ideally suited for a road to limit water flow in a controlled way.

Components of a Culvert

Different types of culverts consist of different parts. Followings are some major components of a culvert:

• Pavement
• Road Embankment
• Headwall
• Wingwall
• Apron
• Crown
• Culvert Pipe
• Culvert Inlet
• Culvert Outlet
• Culvert Foundation

The arch bridge is one of the classic Empire bailiwick parts that inspire trendy design. An arch bridge is a type of bridge that is designed in the shape of an arch. The major advantages of arch bridges include their resistance to bending forces, their pressure-resistant design, their ability to be made from virtually anything, their structurally sound composition, their lack of distortion, their increased strength over time, and their economic advantages. However, arch bridges also have some disadvantages, including their restricted span, their constraints on location, their need for additional maintenance, their need for additional support, their long construction time, and their high cost.

In this article, we will discuss the advantages of Arch Bridges and the disadvantages of Arch Bridges.

Advantages of Arch Bridges

The followings are the major advantages of arch bridges:

1. Provides a better level of resistance: An arch bridge’s aciform style offers associated unnatural strength purpose that permits the structure to own higher levels of resistance to the bending forces that will have the power to alter its kind.

2. Design is good in terms of pressure: By using an arch style once making a bridge, the load of something that crosses it'll go straight down. This is often designed to create certain that no single part of the bridge would withstand an excessive amount of pressure.

3. Designed from virtually anything: An arch bridge is often made from stone, bricks, or nearly other natural material that has the standard of withstanding forces of compression.

4. Structurally sound: The modern version of the arch bridge sounds sensibly attributable to the long span through the arch bridge and is structurally sound to the composition of lighter materials.

5. Comes with no distortion: The half-circle form of an arch bridge is by design designed to create certain that no distortion or injury would occur to the structure because of extreme pressure or weight.

6. Becomes stronger because it works: Arch bridges are given plenty of dead weight on top of each of the arches in their architectural style and are able to support loads via the natural process wherever it gains strength.

7. Offers economic advantages: An arch bridge is thought to be a cost-effective way for individuals to traverse tiny distances, therefore serving the economic progress of a particular region.
8. Aesthetically pleasing: Arch bridges are often seen as aesthetically pleasing due to their elegant design.
9. Can be built in a variety of locations: Arch bridges can be built in a variety of locations, including over rivers, valleys, and other bodies of water.
10. Can be made from a variety of materials: Arch bridges can be made from a variety of materials, including stone, steel, and concrete.

Disadvantages of Arch Bridges

The followings are the major pitfall or disadvantages of arch bridges:

1. Restricted span: An arch bridge will solely be of a definite size, either multiple arches are required for the muse of the structure, or alternative reinforcement materials ought to be enclosed to support the loads.
2. Constraints on the location: To be able to build an arch bridge, a very appropriate location should be chosen, wherever the muse on each side is solid and stable because it would want additional support from its sides.
3. Needs additional maintenance: Natural materials are accustomed build an arch bridge, but there is a limit to the pliability of its style, e.g. move and flex beneath wind masses and inflict the mortar that mixes the materials along to disintegrate and crack over time.
4. Needs additional support: This type of bridge needs additional support from its sides than a standard bridge would. It should be designed wherever there is a structurally sound abutment or bank to possess the correct support
5. Will take a long to build: As associate arch bridge should be made in an explicit way to require a long for it to be completed, that is true considering that natural materials are being employed to make it.
6. Pricey to build: The sheer quantity of materials required to construct an arch bridge will very add up to its value. Other than this, there is a fantastic quantity of labor and time required for its completion.

However, an arch bridge serves excellent operates and appears lovely, though it comes with a group of drawbacks.

Arch bridges are a number of the foremost stunning bridges within the world. Arch bridges everywhere the planet. Arch bridges are stunning, functional, and a pleasure for the tourisms. The arch came to a lot of later as applied to bridge building. Now let’s get into detail:

What is Arch Bridge?

An arch is described as flexuous support spanning the gap and serving as a support for the loads on top of the opening. This definition omits an outline of what variety of structural component, an instant, and axial force component, makes up the arch.

Arch bridges are one amongst the oldest sorts of bridges and have nice natural strength. They were originally designed of stone or brick however currently are designed of ferroconcrete or steel. The introduction of those new materials permits arch bridges to be longer with lower spans.

Read More Articles on Bridges:

• What is a Bridge? Main Parts & Types of Bridges
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Arch Bridges

Different Types of Arch Bridges

There are many different types of arch bridges. The arch bridge can be classified into different types. Followings are the types of arch bridges:

1. Deck Arch Bridge
2. Through Arch Bridge
3. Moment Tied Arch
4. Fixed‐Fixed Concrete Arch
5. Pinned‐Pinned Concrete Arch-
6. Bowstring Arch
7. Moment Tied Arch
8. Aqueducts and canal viaducts 
9. Corbel arch bridge

Brief descriptions of these arch bridge types are given below.

Deck Arch Bridge

A deck arch is one wherever the bridge deck that has a structure that directly supports the traffic loads is found on top of the crown of the arch. The deck arch is understood as an ideal arch. 

Example of Deck Arch Bridge:

• New River Gorge Bridge:Span: 924 m (3,030 feet). Longest span: 518.2 m (1,700 feet). Location: West Virginia, United States. 
• Wanxian Bridge / Wanzhou Bridge: Span: 864.12 (2,835 feet). Location: Wanzhou, Chongqing, China.

Through Arch Bridge

A through the arch is one where the upper deck is found at the spring line of the arch. It is also known as the half-through arch bridge. For this type of arch bridge reinforced concrete or steel material is used.

Example of Through Arch Bridge:

• Hell Gate Bridge: Span: 5,151 m (16,900 feet). Longest span: 279.9 m (977.5 feet). Location: New York, United States. 
• Sydney Harbour Bridge:Span: 1,149 m (3,770 feet). Longest span: 503 m (1,650 feet). Location: Sydney, Australia. 

Moment Tied Arch

These sorts of an arch bridge, floor beams connect on to tie and affiliation between arch and tie. 

Fixed‐Fixed Concrete Arch

The mounted arch is employed in concrete bridge and tunnel construction, wherever the spans area unit short. It is subject to extra internal stress caused by thermal enlargement and contraction.

Pinned‐Pinned Concrete Arch

This supports that cannot resist and permits rotation for even tiny low moment. The friction between the two connecting members can also resist some moment. Roller support permits linear motion at the side of rotation. 

Bowstring Arch

In this form of an arch bridge, tension Tie solely carries the axial load and Unsymmetrical Flexure carried by Arch. the scale is 3-pin cord arch. 

Aqueducts and Canal viaducts

To bridge massive distances, the traditional Romans designed a series of supports that were connected with stone arches. These series of arched structures were however not solely in one layer just like the normal bridge, with many layers that might reach spectacular heights.

Corbel Arch bridge

They are created by parturition sequential layers of masonry or stone with every having with success larger cantilevers.

Beam bridges are the oldest and simplest type of bridge. They consist of horizontal beams that are supported by piers at each end. Beam bridges are commonly used for short to medium spans, usually up to 250 feet. They have some advantages and disadvantages over other types of bridges. In the following section, all the pros and cons of beam bridges are described.

Advantages of Beam Bridges

There are several advantages to beam bridges:

1. Easy to construct: Beam bridges are relatively easy to build. They can be constructed quickly and with less effort than other types of bridges.
2. Cost-effective: Beam bridges are generally less costly than other bridge types, making them an attractive option for small to medium spans.
3. Maintenance: The roadway of a beam bridge can be easily maintained and repaired due to its simple design.
4. Adaptability: The design of a beam bridge can be adapted to support multiple lanes of traffic, sidewalks, and railings.
5. Material options: A beam bridge can be constructed using a variety of materials, such as wood, concrete, and steel.
6. Thermal expansion: Beam bridges can easily withstand the effects of thermal expansion and movements of the ground.
7. Easy to relocate: A beam could be engineered removed from the ultimate position and raised fleetly into place with the least disruption of traffic or navigation.
8. Flexibility: Beam bridges are flexible and can adapt to changes in the environment, such as temperature fluctuations and seismic activity.
9. Environmental impact: Beam bridges have a lower environmental impact than other types of bridges because they use fewer materials and can be built with sustainable materials.
10. Accessibility: Beam bridges are accessible to pedestrians and cyclists, as they can include sidewalks and bike lanes.
11. Wide range of applications: Beam bridges can be used in a variety of applications, including rural roads, urban areas, and industrial sites.
12. Short construction time: Beam bridges can be constructed quickly, which reduces disruption to traffic and surrounding areas.

Disadvantages of Beam Bridges

There are several disadvantages of beam bridges:

1. Span limitations: Beam bridges have a limited span and do not allow large boats or vehicles to pass underneath.
2. Heavy boat traffic: Mostly heavy boat traffic or large ships cannot pass underneath a beam bridge.
3. Not suitable for long spans: Beam bridges are not suitable for very long spans and can only be used for short to medium spans.
4. Weight limitations: Beam bridges are not suitable for very heavy loads and may not be able to support the weight of heavy vehicles.
5. Speed limitations: Beam bridges are not suitable for high-speed traffic and may have lower speed limits than other types of bridges.
6. Height limitations: Beam bridges are not suitable for very tall vehicles, and the height of the bridge may limit the types of vehicles that can cross.
7. Width limitations: Beam bridges are not suitable for very wide vehicles, and the width of the bridge may limit the types of vehicles that can cross.
8. Maintenance costs: Maintenance of beam bridges can be expensive due to the need for regular inspections and repairs.
9. Design limitations: Beam bridges have design limitations, which can make them unsuitable for certain applications, such as long-span bridges and high-load bridges.
10. Weight distribution: Beam bridges require careful weight distribution, which can be a challenge in certain situations, such as high wind or seismic activity.
11. Structural limitations: Beam bridges have structural limitations, which can make them less suitable for locations with high levels of traffic or heavy loads.
12. Weather impact: Beam bridges can be impacted by weather conditions, such as ice, snow, and high winds, which can cause damage and require repairs.
13. Not suitable for marine environments: Beam bridges may not be suitable for marine environments, as they can be impacted by saltwater corrosion and other environmental factors.