Title:
Teaching a Concrete Bridge Analysis and Design Course
Author(s):
Benjamin Z. Dymond, Matthew K. Swenty, Robin G. Tuchscherer
Publication:
Symposium Paper
Volume:
367
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
154-174
Keywords:
bridge analysis, bridge design, reinforced concrete, loads, prestressed concrete, shear capacity, assessment, active learning, demonstrations, experiential learning, pedagogy
DOI:
10.14359/51750597
Date:
3/1/2026
Abstract:
Concrete bridges offer a combination of strength, durability, versatility, and sustainability that make them a preferred choice for many infrastructure projects. However, there are some unique differences between concrete building and bridge analysis and design. The following three concepts were identified by the authors as the most unique, and they are often associated with student confusion in a bridge analysis and design course: applied loads and limit states, shear capacity of prestressed concrete bridge girders, and bridge deck equivalent strip design. This paper presents an overview of the key concepts related to concrete bridge analysis and design that instructors can highlight. Furthermore, this paper includes significant resources that can be used when starting a bridge analysis and design course, including syllabus content, learning objectives, assessment tools and rubrics, available technical resources, and methods of integrating them into undergraduate and graduate level courses. Lastly, innovative teaching techniques are discussed that can aid in removing the difficulty often associated with teaching and learning about concrete bridges. The paper highlights lessons learned from the authors based on observations from several years of instruction.
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