Historical Study of Civil Engineering on Form of Elements around the Pier of Deck Bridges

Abstract

Form of elements around the pier of deck bridges is one of the dominant visual characteristics in bridge aesthetics. Some of historical stone arch bridges had various cut waters, balconies, holes that were made on the spandrel, orders or pilasters and so on. In this study, investigations have been conducted about the form of elements around the pier and the proportion between the pier thickness and maximum span of the bridge from Roman age to twentieth century. Some design standards in stone arch bridges were succeeded to the part of modem bridges, or some were arranged due to the difference of materials, structure and so on.