Bridge+project

Bridges presentation: Puente de la Mujer.

[|bridge presentation]

 Before we start talking about the specific bridge that is going to be used for the presentation, it is important to define them first. Bridges can be defined as a structure spanning and providing passage over a gap or barrier, such as a river, sea, lake, chasm or roadways. The idea behind a bridge is to connect two far-off points eventually reducing the distance between them.   Once we have cleared up the definition of bridges, we have to know that they can be classified on the basis of the techniques used for their construction. According to this, the different types of bridges are:  **Beam Bridge:** It is built from shallow steel beams, box girders and concrete. A horizontal beam supported at its ends comprises the structure of a beam bridge. The construction of a beam bridge is the simplest of all the types of bridges. Highway overpasses, flyovers or walkways are often beam bridges.

**Truss Bridge:** A  truss bridge is a  [|bridge]  composed of connected elements which may be stressed from  [|tension] ,  [|compression] , or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads. Truss bridges are one of the oldest types of modern bridges. A truss bridge is economical to construct owing to its efficient use of materials.   **Arch Bridge:** Going by its name, it is arch-shaped and has supports at both its ends. The weight of an arch-shaped bridge is forced into the supports at either end. Arch bridges have now evolved into compression arch suspended-deck bridge enabling the use of light and strongly tensile materials in their construction.

**Suspension Bridge:** These types of bridges are suspended from cables, and the suspension cables are anchored at each end of the bridge. The load that the bridge bears converts into the tension in the cables. These cables stretch beyond the pillars up to the dock-level supports further to the anchors in the ground. The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most famous suspension bridges.

**Cable-stayed Bridge:** Structured similar to the suspension bridges, the difference lies in the amount of cable used. Less cable is required and consequently, the towers holding the cables are shorter.  **Cantilever bridge:** Cantilevers are the structures that project along the X-axis in space. They are supported only on one end. Bridges intended to carry lesser traffic may use simple beams while those aimed at handling larger traffic make use of trusses or box girders   Once we have seen the different types of bridges, we have to talk about the uses of them. Bridges are designed for trains, pedestrian or road traffic, a pipeline or waterway for water transport or barge traffic.  Some bridges also carry special installations such as a restaurant, transmission antennas or power lines.   Bridges are subject to unplanned uses as well. The areas underneath some bridges have become makeshift shelters and homes to homeless people, and the undersides of bridges all around the world are spots of prevalent graffiti. Some bridges attract people attempting suicide, and become known as suicide bridges. <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Now that we have learned a little more about what bridges are, there types and uses, we are going to focus in one bridge in particular which will be studied, described and characterized by me. In the following part you will get to know the bridge in study and all its parts, structure, materials, uses, among other things. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">1. ** <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Name of the bridge: **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Puente de la Mujer (Bridge of the Woman) <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">2. ** <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Location: **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Buenos Aires, Argentina. <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">3. ** <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Purpose of the bridge: **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> is a <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">335-foot-long suspension pedestrian bridge that connects the two Puerto Madero sides, allowing pedestrians to cross over the 3rd Puerto Madero dam. <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">4. ** <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Type of bridge: **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Puente de la Mujer Bridge is a suspension bridge. <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">5. ** <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Materials: **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">steel for the structure and steel and wood for details and walking deck. <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">6. ** <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Technology involved in its construction: ** <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The 335-foot-long suspension pedestrian bridge is broken up into three sections, two static and one mobile. The central portion of the bridge was designed to rotate 90 degrees to allow water traffic to pass, with the two static portions connecting to pedestrian streets on either side of the dam. The bridge was primarily built in Victoria, Spain and taken to Buenos Aires in parts over five months. <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">** <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">7. **** <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Designers: **<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Arch. Santiago Calatrava. <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;">** <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">8. **** <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Advantages/disadvantages of the bridge for the specific community:  ** <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">As advantages we find that, with the construction of this bridge, the city of Buenos Aires gain a new attraction for tourists from all around the world, and for residents of the city too. As an addition to this, the fact that the bridge was designed by a world famous architect like Santiago Calatrava promoted the city and makes that eyes from all over the world turn to look into Buenos Aires. Finally we find that, with this intervention, Puerto Madero’s area began its image renovation, achieving to be one of the most important places to visit in Buenos Aires in the actual days.

<span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">As disadvantages we can name the fact that, o <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">nly three years after its inauguration, the bridge was closed for some time due to missing screws and slats of wood which made it unsafe for pedestrians. As an addition to this we find that the city of Buenos Aires has never assumed responsibility for the bridge's upkeep, choosing instead to have the Gonzales family (who donated the $6 million bridge) to maintain it.