civil-engineering-(土木工程概论英文课件)CHAPTER-FIVE.docVIP

CHAPTER FIVE TECHNICAL INNOVATIONS IN WORLDS BRIDGE DEVELOPMENT 5.1 Introduction-Historic Review Several thousand years ago, bridges were already built to cross rivers and valleys and make traffic convenient Before the Christian era, the Chinese already learnt to build simple beam bridges. Bing LI conducted the construction of a pedestrian suspension bridge with bamboo cables early in 250 B. C For this bridge, suspended cables were adopted as main supporting structures to cross a valley or river. Before the 18th century, bridges were made mostly of natural materials, for instance, wood, stone,