Design of steel footbridges

Footbridges are needed where a separate pathway has to be provided for people to cross traffic flows or some physical obstacle, such as a river. The loads they carry are, in relation to highway or railway bridges, quite modest, and in most circumstances a fairly light structure is required. They are, however, frequently required to give a long clear span, and stiffness then becomes an important consideration. The bridges are often very clearly on view to the public and therefore the appearance merits careful attention.

Steel offers economic and attractive forms of construction which suit all the requirements demanded of a footbridge.

[top]Introduction

Half-through warren truss footbridge
(Image courtesy of Nusteel Structures Ltd.)

A fully detailed design can be prepared with other contract documents for pricing by tenderers. However, it is common practice, particularly for smaller bridges, for the detailed design of a footbridge to be included as part of a design and construct package. Many fabricators are able to provide such a package, using methods and details of construction developed to suit their particular fabrication facilities and expertise. However, the engineer supervising the work still needs to be acquainted with the different forms of construction which might be used and to be aware of their advantages and limitations.

Longer span bridges and those which form part of a larger scheme are likely to be designed in detail by a consultant or local authority. Within such an organisation the engineer carrying out the design needs to be familiar with the particular requirements for footbridges, their features and construction details.

For the engineer in either of these situations, this article presents guidance on the conceptual design of steel and composite footbridges, to aid the selection of an outline design.

[top]Features and forms of construction for footbridges

[top]Basic requirements

Access ramps at Hunslet Moor Footbridge, Leeds

Footbridges, like any other bridge, must be long enough to clear the obstacle which is to be crossed and high enough not to interfere with whatever passes beneath the bridge. However, the access route onto the footbridge is often much different from what is familiar to the designer of a highway bridge: there is no necessity for a gentle horizontal alignment (indeed the preferred route may be sharply at right angles to the span). Structural continuity is therefore less common. The principal span is often a simply supported one.

Provision of suitable access for wheelchairs and cyclists is often specified for footbridges. Access ramps must be provided and restricted to a maximum gradient. The consequent length of ramps where access is from the level of the road or rail track over which the bridge spans is generally much longer than the bridge itself. The form of construction suitable for the ramps may have a dominant influence on the final form of the bridge.

The width of a footbridge is usually quite modest, just sufficient to permit free passage in both directions for pedestrians. Occasionally the bridge will have segregated provision for pedestrians and cyclists, in which case it will need to be wider. Parapets are provided for the safety of both the pedestrians and traffic flow. Footbridges over railway lines are required to have higher parapets and be provided with solid panels directly over the rail tracks.

[top]Truss and Vierendeel girder beams

Trusses offer a light and economical form of construction, particularly when the span is large. The members of the truss can be quite slender and this naturally leads to the use of structural hollow sections. Hollow sections have been used for footbridges for over 50 years and some fabricators have specialised in this form of construction, developing techniques and details which utilise them to the best advantage.

Vierendeel girders using hollow section members offer an alternative but complementary structural form of similar proportion by substituting a rectangular form for the triangular arrangement used in trusses.

Warren truss through footbridge

Trusses and Vierendeel girders are arranged with either half-through or through construction. Half-through construction is used for smaller spans, where the depth needed is relatively shallow. For larger spans, or where the truss is clad to provide a complete enclosure for the pedestrians, through trusses are used; the top chords are then braced together above head level.

[top]Steel beam bridges

Castleford Footbridge (Box girders)

The simplest method of employing structural steel as the prime structural element of a footbridge is to use a pair of girders (fabricated or rolled sections), braced together for stability and acting as beams in bending, with a non-participating walkway surface on top. A typical small bridge deck might for example be formed by timbers placed transversely across the top of the beams. Precast slabs might also be used, without a shear connection to the steel and therefore not participating in global structural action.

Alternatively, the floor might be formed by steel plate, suitably stiffened to carry the pedestrian loads, in which case the plate could also be made to act structurally as the top flange of the steel beams.

[top]Steel box girder bridges

Another alternative is to use a small steel box girder. The top flange acts as the floor of the bridge, and there are usually short cantilevers either side of the box. This form has the benefits of good torsional stiffness, which can simplify support arrangements and clean surfaces which minimise maintenance.

[top]Composite beam bridges

Composite beams, steel girders with a concrete slab acting as both a walkway floor and participating as a top flange, are a practical solution for medium span footbridges. They are a lighter version of the form of composite construction frequently employed in highway bridges. Slabs may be cast in situ, though the lesser requirements for the shear connection and the lighter design loads on the slab allow greater opportunity to employ precast slabs. The slab can also be cast on the beams in the works or other convenient site, since the weight and dimensions are often sufficiently modest to permit transport and erection of the complete superstructure.

Although composite construction is usually associated with I section girders, a concrete slab can also be used with a steel box girder.

[top]Cable stayed bridges

Swansea Sail Bridge

In seeking to provide a bridge of light appearance, the use of cable stays is found to be very successful. It often affords scope to create a visually striking structure which provides a landmark or a focus for the area in which it is located. Almost any form of construction can be used with stays, though when a cable stayed form is chosen, the structural requirements are often found to be of secondary consideration to the achievement of a pleasing appearance.

Examples of cable-stayed bridges include:

[top]Enclosed bridges

Enclosure of the sides of a footbridge is often called for to discourage the throwing of objects from the bridge. This is a particular requirement for bridges over railway lines. Full enclosure, to the sides and the roof of the walkway, is called for in situations where the users are to be protected from the environment and where greater protection is required over railway lines. Such enclosure justifies the use of through truss or Vierendeel construction. The form of construction will probably be dictated by consideration of appearance of the bridge and its relationship to adjacent structures. Whilst the general principles discussed in this guide are applicable, fully enclosed bridges are not specifically dealt with in detail here.

Enclosure at Oldham Way Footbridge
Decorative spike at Cathedral Green Footbridge

[top]Decorative features

In addition to the basic impression made by the form of construction, the appearance can be greatly influenced by non-structural decorative features, such as parapets and handrails. Where particular effects are sought, the availability of different patterns for posts, rails, etc, should be investigated. Non-structural embellishments of supports can also contribute – for example a cable stayed pylon can be extended to a spike or other feature above the level of the topmost stay connection, as shown on the Cathedral Green Footbridge (above right).

[top]Landmark structures

Gateshead Millennium Bridge

It is an increasingly common requirement for footbridges in prominent or key locations to be ‘landmark structures’. Particular attention is given to the appearance of the structure and this may result in somewhat unusual forms of construction. Such structures can be allowed to be marginally less efficient (in terms of complexity of fabrication) but if the design is well executed the penalties should be small.

There is more scope for innovative design when the structure is not over a road or railway, because the requirements for parapet details need not be so stringent. Parapets are often the most noticeable feature of a footbridge, and the freedom to use more attractive forms and more open post and rail arrangements can lead to a very pleasing appearance.

The use of curved arch-type members is currently quite popular, as is the use of cable stays. Some notable examples are illustrated in the case studies in this article.

[top]Conceptual design and detailing

[top]General arrangement

As a first step, the basic requirements for access and safety should be determined. The width and form of access needed depends on the expected pedestrian traffic flow, though minimum dimensions are adequate in most cases.

For a simple footway, a minimum clear width of 2.0 m is required by the highways authorities. Railway station footbridges can be less wide. To the sides of this footway, parapets are required, which should be 1.15 m high over roads or 1.5 m high over railways, the height measured from the footway surface in both cases. In areas prone to vandalism, a height of 1.8 m may be required over railways. An increased parapet height of 1.3 m may be needed in areas of high prevailing wind and for bridges where the headroom under the bridge is more than 10 m.

Where pedestrians and cyclists share the pathway, a minimum width of 3.5 m may be used for low traffic flows but a wider segregated pathway may be required for higher traffic flows. Segregation can be achieved by a white line, colour contrast or difference in surface texture, in which case the minimum width is (1.5m + 2.5m). Alternatively, a kerb or railings may be used, which increases the width requirements further. At the same time the minimum parapet height is increased to 1.4 m.

Dimensional requirements for footbridges are given in BD 29/17^[1]. Although that document refers to requirements in TD19/06^[2], which in turn refers to BS 7818^[3] for pedestrian restraint systems.

The drainage requirements also affect the cross section, since kerbs will be needed to prevent run-off where the bridge is above a carriageway, a footpath or rail tracks. Typically an upstand of 50mm should be provided. This upstand can be provided by an edge beam, by the lower chord of a truss or by a flat welded to the floor plate.

[top]Span

Since there is usually no need to align the approaches to a footbridge, the span should normally be arranged square to the obstacle it has to cross.

The minimum span required is that simply needed to clear the width of obstacle, carriageway or railway. However, the span may be increased in order that the supports are positioned far enough from a carriageway or rail track to avoid the risk of impact from an errant vehicle or derailed train. The supports of light structures such as footbridges are particularly prone to the effects of impact.

For footbridges over highways, the span is determined by the dimensions of the carriageways, as given in CD 127^[4].

To avoid the imposition of impact loads the supports need to be set back 4.5 m from the edge of the carriageway (see Figure 1 below). Where this can be arranged, perhaps additionally spanning a footway beside the road, the consequent savings in the cost of the substructure should be considered. Supports between carriageways should also be avoided if possible.

Figure 1: Governing dimensions in elevation

The space needed for approach ramps and stairs will be significant in arranging the layout of a footbridge. This may influence the positioning of the bridge and its supports, and thus its span.

Footbridges over railways are mostly required to cross two or four tracks, with resulting span of between 10 and 25 m. Where intermediate supports are placed closer than 4.5 m to the nearest rail, Network Rail requires the superstructure to be capable of supporting itself if one support were to be demolished in an accident.

[top]Clearance

Typical half-through plate girder footbridge over a railway
(Image courtesy of Nusteel Structures Ltd.)

Over a highway, the clearance under new footbridges is required to be at least 5.7m (CD 127^[4]). With this clearance the superstructure need not be designed for impact loads (see Figure 1 above). If any relaxation on clearance were permitted in special cases it is likely that impact loads would have to be considered. This would be very onerous on the structural design.

Clearance required over a railway line depends on several factors, such as whether the line is electrified and the ‘category’ of the line. Requirements must be agreed with Network Rail for the particular situation.

Clearly, where access to the bridge has to come from carriageway or track level, the rise needed for the stairs or ramps is the sum of the clearance plus the superstructure construction depth (walkway surface to structure soffit). This means that ramps will be long (about 120 m at each end of the bridge over a road, for a 1 in 20 grade). It also means that the depth of construction (for example the depth of a plate girder) can add significantly to the length of ramp, and thus to the cost of the whole structure. For this reason, half-through construction, with a very shallow construction depth, is usually preferred.

Sufficient vertical camber is needed to ensure drainage of the footbridge to the ends, where the run-off can be carried to drains or a soakaway.

[top]Stairs and ramps

Where access is required from a lower level, stairs and ramps must be provided. Stairs are only suitable for able pedestrians and it is general policy to provide ramps where possible. Such ramps should ideally be no steeper than 1 in 20, though gradients of up to 1 in 12 may be used in cases of extreme difficulty.

A ramp can be either a series of straight sections or a spiral, depending on circumstances and space available (see Figure 2 below). The space occupied by a ramp is quite significant and may well influence the position of the bridge.

Figure 2: Arrangement of typical stairs and ramp

A single straight ramp can be used where space and the desired access route permit. If the gradient is steeper than 1 in 20, the ramp should have intermediate landings (i.e. it should be a series of ramps with horizontal sections between). Ramps are often arranged in scissor fashion (i.e. with a 180° change of direction at an intermediate landing).

Spiral ramps must have a minimum inside radius of 5.5 m (gradient measured 900 mm from the inside edge). The same limits on gradient apply (i.e. a maximum of 1 in 20 is desirable, up to 1 in 12 may be acceptable in some cases). Spiral ramps are unsuitable for a full 6 m rise to a footbridge over a highway unless a large radius can be accommodated.

Stepped ramps are sometimes used which, with a 125 mm step and a 1 in 12 slope between, can effectively achieve a 1 in 6 gradient. For spiral ramps this gives a rise of 6 m in under 360° turn.

Stairs are usually arranged in two or three flights with intermediate landings, depending on particular arrangements, to comply with normal safety requirements. They usually have semi-open risers, for lighter appearance. Handrails are provided on the inside faces of the parapets on stairs and ramps. Minimum widths must be maintained between these handrails. Gallery of images:

Examples of stairs and ramps
Seabraes Footbridge
(Image courtesy of S H Structures Ltd.)
Scissor ramp
(Image courtesy of Briton Fabricators Ltd.)
Installation of stairs
(Image courtesy of Cairnhill Structures Ltd.)

[top]Services

Services beneath a footbridge
(Image courtesy of Briton Fabricators Ltd.)

Occasionally the bridge may have to carry a service – water pipes or electric cables, for example. It should normally be arranged that such pipes are supported out of sight, on brackets or cross-members between main beams for example. If a service is positioned inside a box girder, it is better to put it in a duct, so that any maintenance to the service does not require entry into the box girder. Gas or water pipes should not be sited inside a box girder, for safety reasons, unless placed in a steel sleeve which runs the length of the bridge.

[top]Selection of type of construction

As mentioned previously, the depth of construction is very important to the overall extent of the footbridge where access is from the level of the road or railway being crossed. In those circumstances it is usually preferable to use a half-through form of construction. This usually leads to a selection of a truss or Vierendeel girder bridge, though half-through plate girder forms such as that developed by Network Rail may also be used.

However, not all bridges are subject to such constraints. Some simply cross, for example, a small river, or span across a deep cutting. In such cases the depth of construction is not so important and steel girders or steel composite construction may be employed. When the span is long, the dynamic response of the bridge becomes a significant consideration, particularly for the lighter all steel bridge. The greater stiffness afforded by truss construction may well be advantageous. Alternatively, cable stayed construction can be employed.

Cable stayed forms of construction can rarely be justified visually below about 40m. For spans up to 100 m a single pylon on one side of the main span is often appropriate, both visually and structurally. Beyond about 100 m twin pylons should be considered.

Suspension bridges are very rarely considered these days, but may still be chosen for appearance reasons when the span exceeds about 70 m.

A summary of approximate span ranges suitable for the various types is given below.

**Span ranges for different types of construction**
Construction type	Span range (m)
Truss	15 – 60
Vierendeel girder	15 – 45
Twin steel girders	10 – 25
Steel girders + steel floor plate	10 – 30
Steel box girder	20 – 60
Composite beams	10 – 50
Arches	25 upwards
Cable stayed bridge	40 upwards
Suspension bridge	70 upwards

[top]Trusses and Vierendeel girder bridges

Although trusses and Vierendeel girders have a different structural action, there are many similar features when they are constructed of structural hollow section members, as used in footbridges. This section deals with both types of construction.

[top]Through and half-through construction

Trusses and Vierendeel girders for footbridges are normally arranged with the deck at the level of the bottom chord, in either through or half-through construction. Half-through construction is used for smaller spans, where the depth needed is less than the clearance height for people to walk through. For large spans, or where the bridge is clad to provide a complete enclosure for the pedestrians, through construction is used.

Through truss footbridge
(Image courtesy of Briton Fabricators Ltd.)

The top chords can then be braced together above head level.

Stability of the top compression chord in half-through construction is provided by the U-frame action of the side members and the cross-members of the deck. In through construction, lateral bracing between the two top chords offers a more direct means of stabilising them.

[top]Configuration

Figure 3: Types of truss and Vierendeel girder

The type of truss usually employed is either a Warren truss or a modified Warren truss. Occasionally a Pratt truss may be used. The different types are illustrated in Figure 3 (right).

Warren trusses are the simplest form of truss, with all loads being carried principally as axial loads in the members and with the minimum of members meeting at joints. However, the loads which are carried to the bottom chords from the walkway floor can lead to significant bending in these members when the panels are large. A modified Warren truss reduces the span of these chord members, though the additional vertical members add complexity to the fabrication. Pratt trusses are used where it is preferred that some members are vertical, for example to facilitate the fixing of cladding or decorative panels.

Vierendeel girders have no diagonal members and rely on a combination of axial loading and bending to carry loads. The stiffness of the girder depends crucially on the bending stiffness of vertical and horizontal members and on the stiffness of the joints between the two. As a consequence they are much heavier, for a given span, than a Warren truss. However the appearance, which only shows vertical and horizontal lines, in harmony with the normal form of parapet (horizontal rails, vertical posts and infill), is often considered more pleasing.

For the largest spans, the Vierendeel girder will probably be too flexible, though they have been used successfully up to 45m span.

Warren truss half-through footbridges
(Image courtesy of Nusteel Structures Ltd.)
(Image courtesy of Nusteel Structures Ltd.)
(Image courtesy of Nusteel Structures Ltd.)

[top]Proportions and appearance

The familiar image of a truss is probably of a heavy looking structure, relatively deep in proportion to span. Such trusses were often used for railway bridges. However, a truss footbridge can generally be of light appearance and of shallow depth/span proportion.

With half-through construction, the minimum overall depth is determined by the parapet height; for a crossing over a highway the minimum is about 1.25 m. For spans over about 30 m the depth will need to be slightly greater, though span/depth ratios in excess of 30 can give a pleasing appearance.

For spans over 50 m full through construction will probably be necessary. Then the depth is determined by internal clearance, which is usually specified as 2.3 m minimum. To reduce the tunnel effect and to keep the top bracing away from casual abuse a depth of about 3 m is needed. Such spans will have a deeper span/depth ratio, though the slender members will still give an impression of lightness.

The arrangement of the bracing and the line of the parapets are the dominant features which are seen by road users. They therefore require careful attention and treatment.

Hog-back configuration for main span
(Image courtesy of Briton Fabricators Ltd.)

Where the depth of the Vierendeel girder is determined by parapet height, the top chord can often be used as the parapet rail, with suitable infill bars fixed between the vertical members. For longer span Vierendeel girders, where the depth is more than the parapet height, parapet panels complete with top rail can be fixed inside the rectangular panels of the girder. Where a truss is used, the parapet is usually fixed to the inner face of the diagonal members. The parapets are less conspicuous to road users than the truss members, though they are still evident in silhouette.

Construction depth, from footway surface to underside of the truss or girder, is normally quite shallow, not more than the depth of the chord members. This contributes greatly to the light appearance.

The top and bottom chords of a truss are usually made parallel, but for larger spans a less dominating appearance can be achieved by a hog-back configuration, with a gentle curve to the top chord reducing the depth at the ends of the span.

[top]Members and connections – trusses

Figure 4: Detail of diagonal plate through bottom chord

Both circular and rectangular structural hollow sections are commonly used in trusses. The bottom chord is generally rectangular, to facilitate connection with deck and cross-members. Rolled sections or flats are sometimes used as cross-members or as stiffeners to steel floor plates. Chords and diagonals are usually arranged with centrelines intersecting where possible. Standard welding details have been developed for hollow section connections.

For half-through trusses the connection with cross-members at the lower chord requires particular attention, since its stiffness and strength are fundamental to U-frame action.

Where the bottom chords are of rectangular section, some designers specify plates slotted diagonally across the section at the position of the cross-members (Figure 4 right) to prevent the chord lozenging or distorting, thus increasing the stiffness of the joint.

Where a steel floor plate is used it normally acts as the “bracing” to the bottom chords, to carry the lateral shear (mainly wind forces) back to the supports. If a non-participating form of floor is used, cross bracing in the plane of the bottom chord, to resist lateral forces, must be considered.

Through trusses, used in longer spans, give lateral stability to the top compression chord by means of bracing in the plane of the top chord. Such bracing will also share in the carrying of any lateral forces, especially where the truss is clad on its sides and thus subject to significant wind loads. At the ends of the span these lateral forces have to be carried down to bearing level through portal action or through a braced frame.

[top]Members and connections – Vierendeel girders

In footbridges, Vierendeel girders normally use rectangular hollow sections for greater stiffness and strength at the connections between verticals and chords.

Vierendeel girder half-through footbridges
(Image courtesy of Nusteel Structures Ltd.)
(Image courtesy of Nusteel Structures Ltd.)
(Image courtesy of Nusteel Structures Ltd.)

The nature of Vierendeel action is that vertical shear is carried by shear/bending action of each length of chord, and the vertical members are subject to complementary horizontal shear and bending. Since shear is highest at the ends of the span, the “fixed end moments” are highest there also. The vertical members therefore need to be strongest at the ends of the span.

Figure 5: Detail of a haunched joint in a Vierendeel girder

On the other hand the central portions of the chords sustain predominantly axial load, whilst the ends sustain predominantly bending load. There is less need to vary the size of the chord members, and usually only thickness is varied, if at all.

The consequences are that the vertical members are often wider (in the plane of the girder) at the ends of the span and are sometimes closer together, variations which are clearly visible in silhouette.

The strength of the joint between chord and vertical members must be adequate to transmit the fixed end moments. To do this, both should have the same width (normal to the plane of the girder). Under the higher moments on the joints toward the ends of the span a simple square joint may have inadequate strength, and either triangular fillets (cut from the same section as the vertical) or reinforcing plates may need to be added to increase stiffness and strength (see Figure 5 right). The appearance of these additions may not always be acceptable and heavier sections may be preferred.

Stability of the compression chord again requires U-frame action of the cross section and this again requires adequate stiffness and strength of the cross-member to vertical connection at the bottom chord. Even with the heavier sections usually required for a Vierendeel girder, it may be necessary to insert diagonal plates, as mentioned previously.

[top]Floor construction

Stiffened floor plate (upside down) in the factory
(Image courtesy of Briton Fabricators Ltd.)

The floor of a truss or Vierendeel girder footbridge will usually be of steel plate, though precast planks have been used with trusses. The lighter steel deck is now generally preferred.

The plate, typically 6 mm or 8 mm thick, is supported on and welded to steel cross-members between the chords. These cross-members form part of the U-frames which stabilise the top chord and are themselves usually hollow sections. The plate panels between chords and cross-members are divided transversely and sometimes longitudinally by stiffeners (usually flats) to give added support.

On top of this plate a waterproof layer is required for corrosion protection, and to give a non-slip surface for safety. This is usually achieved with a thin membrane (which acts both as waterproofing and as a binder) and a surface dressing of fine aggregate. The total thickness is about 4 mm. This surface is often applied in the works and does not add significantly to erection weights.

When precast planks are used it is necessary to provide a shelf angle on the inner face of the chords on which the planks can sit. It is very important that the joint between concrete and steel is properly sealed or it could become a moisture and corrosion trap.

Where drainage over the edges of the bridge is not permitted, arrangements must be made to carry rainwater to the ends of the bridge and then to drains or a soakaway. A vertical curve or longitudinal camber should be provided on a bridge which otherwise would be level.

Where rainwater can be allowed to run off the side of the bridge (for example over a river), the floor may be slightly cambered transversely to facilitate drainage. With stiffened thin steel plate decks, care also needs to be exercised that panels do not dish between stiffeners and allow ponding of water – the spacing of stiffeners is usually limited for this reason. Weld sizes should be kept to a minimum, to reduce distortion from welding (see Guidance Note 2.10).

[top]Parapets

Parapet on a Vierendeel girder
(Image courtesy of Nusteel Structures Ltd.)

Parapets are normally designed to comply with a DMRB standard. The parapet may be either a separate item or may be combined with structural members.

For trusses, the parapet is provided as separate units fixed to the inside faces of the truss diagonals. The diagonals must then be designed to carry lateral loads from the parapet, and the parapet rails must be designed to span between the diagonals which support them. Parapet posts can alternatively be fixed to the footway deck, though the attachment would need to be strong enough to withstand the overturning moment arising from lateral forces on the top rail.

Where Vierendeel girders are used it is convenient to fix parapet panels in the rectangular panels of the girders, effectively using the vertical members as parapet posts. This achieves an integrated appearance and produces a slightly lesser overall width of bridge than with separate parapets on the inner faces of the girder. The top chord of the girder may also function as the top parapet rail, or, if it is higher than the required parapet height, a separate rail can be provided in addition to the top chord.

[top]Cladding

Fine mesh cladding
(Image courtesy of Briton Fabricators Ltd.)

Over rail tracks, the highway and rail authorities require that solid non-climbable cladding be provided on the inside face of the truss or Vierendeel girder. To prevent unauthorised access, not only must the pedestrian face of the bridge be designed to be non-climbable, it must also be impossible to climb along the outer face from the ends of the bridge – this usually means that trusses are clad either side of the diagonals at the ends. The top flanges, chords or parapets must be arranged so that they are impossible to walk along.

Such cladding is usually achieved by profiled steel sheeting, rigidized aluminium, GRP panels or even flat sheets. Fine mesh (maximum 50 mm apertures) may be used over non-electrified lines. Although the cladding is only required over the tracks, a better appearance is often achieved by providing the cladding over the full length of the span. Great care needs to be exercised in detailing the cladding, to avoid the creation of small inaccessible sheltered ledges on the top of the lower chord where moss and debris can accumulate or which may be used for handholds or footholds.

[top]Supports

Trusses and Vierendeel girders are supported either on bearings (if they span between concrete abutments, for example) or directly on top of a simple steel substructure without any bearings.

At abutments the point of support is normally directly below the end vertical or diagonal members and thus does not give rise to local bending of the chord section. Other supports should also preferably be arranged similarly. Where it is not convenient to do so, for instance when a top landing cantilevers a short distance beyond the support columns and the support is midway between bracing connections, the bottom chord is subjected to bending. It is then common to use a heavier chord section over the last one or two panels of the truss.

[top]Fabrication of trusses

Fabricators who specialise in hollow section fabrication are familiar with all the types of detail needed for truss footbridges and have appropriate equipment, such as profile cutting equipment for tubulars etc.

A wide range of sizes of hollow sections is available from the rolling mills, but it must be remembered that the fabricator has to purchase material for each job, either from the mill or from a stockist, and his orders may be subject to minimum quantities and premiums for small quantities. The designer should therefore try as far as possible to standardise his choice of section size and material grade.

[top]Erection

Fortunately, most footbridges can be fabricated as a complete length of the span and then transported, with spans up to about 45 m. Although fabrications over 27 m in length require special permission to travel on the public highway, most fabricators prefer to complete fabrication in the works wherever possible and are familiar with arrangements for the movement of long lengths.

Installation of a complete span
(Image courtesy of Briton Fabricators Ltd.)
(Image courtesy of Briton Fabricators Ltd.)

Bolted hollow section flanged joint details can be used for site splices, though it may be felt that flange plate end connections are somewhat cumbersome in appearance. In-line splice details are much less obtrusive, but require more effort in design and fabrication. In most cases, spans must be complete before lifting, because closure or possession periods will be very short.