As the title of the article already implies, a viaduct is a bridge structure. Such a project differs from bridges of other types and structures by high supports and a large length. Most often, engineers propose to build such structures at the intersection of roads with swampy places, river valleys, gorges and ravines. In the event that it is not advisable to build a high embankment in a certain area, it is quite acceptable to build a viaduct, which, while solving problems with movement in this area, is also a profitable option from an economic point of view.
Viaduct: distinctive characteristics
Literally, a viaduct is translated from Latin as “way” (via) and “lead” (duco). In other words, it is a special bridge leading over something (providing movement through something) and having very high supports. However, if the bridge is an artificial structure that is thrown over a lake, river or other water obstacle, then a viaduct is a structure that is drawn through a gorge, abyss or ravine. By the way, this creation also differs in this way from the overpass, which is a crossing over the highway, railway tracks, etc. From the overpass, which hasthe same spans, the viaduct differs in their difference. The largest span most often falls on the highest part of the entire bridge. In addition, the flyover is predominantly built over a flat surface. A viaduct is a completely justified construction measure when the soil, due to its weakness, does not allow the use of another structure as a bridge. If necessary, its design allows you to gradually increase the height of the spans. It can be built of stone, concrete, reinforced concrete, metal. As a rule, a viaduct is predominantly a multi-span and arched structure, rather than a beam structure. The history of the first such structure goes back to the time of the prosperity of the Ancient Roman Empire.
The most famous in the world
These are the most famous viaducts in the world:
- Kaluga stone bridge.
- Mokrinsky railway, located in the Chuvash Republic.
- Gelchtalbrücke is the tallest brick building of this type in the world.
- Scottish viaduct located near the village of Glenfinnan.
- Viaduct across the Siduhe River (the clearance of this highest transport bridge in the world is at least 0.472 km).
- Milhaud Viaduct (its highest pillar is 0.341 km).
More about the last one
The Millau Viaduct is a cable-stayed bridge structure that runs through the Tarn River valley near the city of Millau, located in the south of France, in Aveyrondepartment. It is the last part of the A75, which provides high-speed traffic from the capital (Paris) to the city of Béziers. The authors of the project are two prominent scientists in the field of engineering and architecture: Michel Virlojo and Norman Foster. The grandiose structure they built crosses the lowest point of the Tarn River valley, connects the red plateau with the Larzac plateau and passes the perimeter of the Great Plateau (National Natural Park) along its inner side.
More about parameters
Milhaud Bridge is a steel roadway consisting of 8 spans. Its support is provided by the same number of steel columns. The weight of this roadway is 36,000 tons. Its width is 32 m, and its depth is 4.2 m. The total length of the Millau viaduct is 2460 m. Each of the central spans (6 pieces) is 342 m long, and the remaining two extreme spans are 204 m each. This viaduct, the photo of which fascinate, as already mentioned - one of the most famous in the world. The movement on it began in December 2004. It seems that it is no longer necessary to explain how a viaduct differs from a bridge in this particular case.
Viaduct of today
In the distant past, the bridge, which has the design of a modern viaduct, was built exclusively from massive stones that underwent long manual hewing. A large amount of physical labor and time was spent on the creation of such projects. Such structures looked bulky and heavy, they looked quite reliable. Thanks to the fact that shethe architectural idea of such a bridge turned out to be quite in demand by mankind, in the process of the development of civilization, and, accordingly, the technology of manufacturing building materials and the construction itself, the ideas of erecting such structures also developed. The use of metal, reinforced concrete and concrete in the construction of such bridges makes it possible to make them (with the preservation of the arch structure and the development of beams) less material-intensive. Thanks to truss systems, today's viaducts capture the imagination with bare structures that are visually weightless and delicate, yet withstand incredible loads.
![what is a viaduct [1]](https://i.fashionrebelsbook.com/images/013/image-36002-6-j.webp "what is a viaduct [1]")
What is a viaduct
Everyone, thinking about this question, understands that such a bridge is evidence of people's ability to conquer nature, to tame it. It is thanks to the power of his mind that a person was able to build safe and powerful roads with a good length where even from a geological point of view, it would seem that there is no possibility for such construction. These structures are an integral part of the twenty-first century, testifying to the development of the industrial and construction industries of our time. Each viaduct is a structure of stunning beauty and power, which is the fruit of the thought of brilliant engineers and talented architects.
