What is the difference between a bascule bridge and a drawbridge?

What is the difference between a bascule bridge and a drawbridge?

The bridge deck is made of one or more large leaves, or flat panels that lift from a horizontal to vertical position. A bascule drawbridge may have single or double lifting leaves. These bridges operate by using counterweights and a winch, either mechanical or hydraulic, in the bridge structure.

How do bascule bridges work?

Bascule bridges have spans that pivot upward utilizing gears, motors and counterweights. Unlike vertical lift bridges, when opened, there is no vertical obstacle to river traffic. The machinery for opening the bridge is located above the structure. The Burnside Bridge is a Strauss-type, double-leaf bascule bridge.

What are common features of a bascule bridge?

The span is suspended between lift towers at each end when open. A type of movable bridge, a bascule bridge contains one or two spans, one end of which is free and swings upwards. A counterweight at the pivoting end of the span or spans balances the weight as the free end rises.

What is bridge and its function?

A bridge is a structure built to span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or rail) without blocking the way underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, which is usually something that is otherwise difficult or impossible to cross.

How are bridges used today?

Bridges are mostly useful for crossing rivers, valleys, or roads by vehicles but people have also used bridges for a long time for walking. Bridges are structures built over railroad tracks, roads, rivers or some other obstacle. The bridge must also be able to withstand earthquakes, strong winds, freezing and thawing.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of bascule bridges?

Advantages and Disadvantages of Bascule Bridge. Advantages of Bascule Bridge. It opens the water way for ships and vessels with considerable speed and it permits the passage of small size boats to pass through even if the passage is not opened completely.

How did the bascule bridge get its name?

A bascule bridge (sometimes referred to as a drawbridge) is a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances a span, or “leaf”, throughout its upward swing to provide clearance for boat traffic. It may be single- or double-leafed. The name comes from the French term for balance scale,…

Which is better single leaf or double leaf bascule bridge?

Both single leaf and double leaf bascule bridge provide obstacles for the cars, but single leaf provides barrier at one side of the road. Double leaf bascule bridge offers the broadest spaces for vessels compared with other types of movable bridges. The depth of the span that extended from the pier to the center of the bridge can be decreased.

Is the Tower Bridge a bascule or suspension bridge?

The famous Tower Bridge in London is a combination of bascule and suspension bridge, and is considered as an iconic symbol of the city. Bascule bridges are a type of movable bridge. That is, these bridges have a movable section that rises upwards (on a horizontal axis) to open up and allow the navigation of large ships and other water traffic.