Steel Bridges

Steel bridges are widely used around the world in different structural forms and spans, such as highway bridges, railroad bridges and pedestrian bridges. The main advantages of structural steel over other construction materials are its strength, ductility, ease of fabrication and rapid construction. It has much higher tensile and compressive strength than concrete and has a better strength-to-cost and stiffness-to-weight ratio. Steel is a versatile and effective material that can provide efficient and sustainable solutions for bridge construction, especially for large-span bridges or bridges that require enhanced seismic performance.

Structural steel for steel bridges should be selected based on the required material properties or the state of stress at the time of use, environmental conditions at the construction site, corrosion protection methods, and construction methods. The physical properties of structural steel, such as strength, ductility, toughness, weldability, weatherability, chemical composition, shape, size, and surface properties, are important factors in the design and construction of steel bridges. Three types of structural steel are frequently used in steel bridge construction, including carbon steel, high-strength steel, and heat-treated carbon steel.