What forces can be applied to truss bridges?

For a pedestrian bridge, 100psf live load and self weight for dead load. There are a number of equations you can use but the typical value is w=1.2DL+1.6LL with w being the distributed weight in combination of the dead and live loads usually measured in lb/ft. read more

Bridges must be able to withstand several types of forces. The two most common to model bridges are compression and tension, pushing and pulling respectively. The other two are torsion (twisting) and shear. Learn what these forces mean so that you can build a better model bridge. Compression: Compression is a pushing (compressing) force. read more

A force is a push or pull in any direction in which a change is produced. A force can be weight (mass x gravity), wind, air resistance, or even a moving vehicle exerting its weight on the road below. Before we begin to study the design of bridges it is important to understand the forces that are applied to the bridge and that forces never act alone. read more