Bridge design

High school (ages 12+)
Making & Design

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/bridge-design

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the core engineering requirements?Structural integrity, safety, lifespan, climate resilience, traffic capacity, and navigational clearance
2. What do engineers check before building a bridge?They look at how the bridge will be used, the weather, traffic, and how strong it must be.
3. Why do bridges need to be strong and safe?To hold their own weight and the weight of cars, trucks, or trains, and to last many years without breaking.

Structural Integrity: The ability of a bridge to withstand applied loads without failure or excessive deformation.
Aesthetics: The principles concerned with the beauty or the appreciation of beauty in a bridge's design and form.
Life-Cycle Cost Analysis: An evaluation of all costs associated with a bridge over its entire lifespan, including construction, operation, and maintenance.
Environmental Impact Assessment: A study to predict the environmental consequences of a proposed bridge project before it is built.