Question

A row of bolted diagonal (x-type) bridging at the end. In engineering, what is the primary purpose of bridging?

a) To provide additional support
b) To increase weight
c) To reduce stability
d) To enhance aesthetics

Answer 1

The primary purpose of bridging in engineering is to provide additional support, enabling structures like bridges to handle various stresses and remain stable under different conditions such as temperature changes and dynamic loads.

Step-by-step explanation:

The primary purpose of bridging in engineering is To provide additional support. Bridging, particularly in the context of diagonal (x-type) arrangements, serves to stabilize loads and ensure the structure can adequately handle various stresses. By distributing forces more evenly and adding rigidity, bridging helps prevent buckling or failure of components under weight or during dynamic loads, such as traffic or wind. The bridge mentioned, supported by two piers 20 meters apart providing forces FL and FR, exemplifies this concept as it requires such stability to accommodate changes due to temperature fluctuations, weight of objects, and total load, all of which can affect the bridge's integrity.