Optimal design of portable single trackway bridge

• Main Author: Pathiusman Abdullah Ashiqmumin.
• Other Authors: Sridhar Idapalapati
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Manufacturing::Product design
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/18949
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The military uses portable bridges for the quick crossing of obstacles in warzones or for humanitarian efforts post war. The major gripe about such equipment is that they are mostly automated. Even in the few that are human operated, the weight and the assembly required coupled with the uneven terrain makes it difficult to assemble the bridge. This report is about the design of a new and lighter bridge which does not have any joints. Firstly, the stresses experienced in the current structure in use, with the working load were calculated using Mechanics of Materials. Then, suitable materials were chosen. Using the properties of these materials, the optimal dimensions were calculated using the physical constraints of the new design. Finally, a finite element analysis of the design was tested on ABAQUS. The finite element results showed that the stresses experienced in the structure were well below the stresses of the materials used. The weight of the new design was reduced by more than 25%.