CVG5311 – Bridge Design

Winter 2019

Instructor: Prof. Martin Noël

CBY A-513
MartinNoel@uOttawa.ca
**Please use the online discussion board rather than email for all course-related
questions. Office hours are available by appointment.

Course description: Design of highway bridges according to the Canadian Highway Bridge Design
Code (CHBDC). The topics covered include the following: main structural components of highway
bridges; types of highway bridges; serviceability and ultimate limit state design requirements;
design loads (dead loads, traffic loads, seismic loads, and wind loads); load combinations; code
specifications for loading due to traffic (design lane, characteristics of design truck, positions of
design truck on bridge, etc.); dynamic effects due to traffic loads; management strategies,
sustainability issues, and factors affecting the long-term performance of bridge structures in
Canada.

Prerequisites:
• Structural Analysis (Theory of Structures)
• Reinforced Concrete Design
• Steel Design
• Prestressed Concrete Design (recommended)

Required Resources:
• Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code & Commentary: CSA S6-14, S6.1-14
Online: CAN/CSA S6-14 - Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code

Additional Reading:
• Course notes posted on Blackboard
• Barker & Puckett (2013). Design of Highway Bridges: An LRFD Approach, 3rd edition, John
Wiley & Sons Inc.
o Online version available through uOttawa Library website
• Zhao & Tonias (2012). Bridge Engineering, 3rd edition, McGraw-Hill Education.
o Online
• Assigned readings
OUTLINE OF COURSE MATERIAL

1. Introduction
a. History of bridges
b. Bridge failures
c. Bridge types
d. Construction methods
2. Design concepts
a. Preliminary design methods
b. Load and resistance factored design
c. Reliability aspects
3. Loads
a. Load combinations
b. Dead and live loads
c. Other load types
d. Environmental and thermal effects
e. Dynamic effects
f. Load distribution
g. Influence lines and loading envelopes
4. Concrete Bridges
5. Steel Bridges
6. Other Considerations
a. Curvature, skew, and torsion
b. Lateral bracing, cross frames, and diaphragms
c. Fatigue
d. Expansion joints, railings, bearings, and abutments
7. Long-Term Performance: Durability, Management, and Rehabilitation

Assignments:
Regular assignments and/or supplementary readings will provide opportunities to further
explore selected topics and apply the material presented during the lectures to improve
understanding. No late assignments will be accepted.

Research Project:
One of the main deliverables for this course will be an independent research project on a novel
application or research area related to bridge design. Additional details are provided on the
course website.

Design Competition:
All students will work in groups to complete a bridge design project. Additional details are
provided on the course website.
Grading Scheme:
Assignments 40%
Research Project 30%
Design Competition 30%

ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
The academic calendar regulations for Engineering are posted online at
http://web5.uottawa.ca/admingov/regulations.html. Note in particular the following:

Attendance: Attendance at lectures and tutorials is mandatory. According to the regulations in

the academic calendar, you may not be admitted to the examination if you have not attended
80% of classes.

Course requirements: You must fulfill all course requirements to receive a grade in the course. If
you do not, you may receive a mark of INC (incomplete).

Academic Fraud/Plagiarism: All work submitted for grading in this course is expected to be yours
alone. Anything else constitutes plagiarism. Please review the regulations on academic fraud
posted at the following links:

http://www.uottawa.ca/administration-and-governance/academic-regulation-14-other-
important-information
http://web5.uottawa.ca/mcs-smc/academicintegrity/documents/2011/academic-integrity-
students-guide.pdf

Note that as an engineering student you are enrolled in a program which leads to licencing as a
professional engineer, a status which demands a very high standard of ethical conduct.

The University of Ottawa does not tolerate any form of sexual violence. Sexual violence refers to
any act of a sexual nature committed without consent, such as rape, sexual harassment or online
harassment. The University, as well as student and employee associations, offers a full range of
resources and services allowing members of our community to receive information and
confidential assistance and providing for a procedure to report an incident or make a complaint.
For more information, visit www.uOttawa.ca/sexual-violence-support-and-prevention.