Title:  Instructions on Modern American Bridge Building

Author:  G. B. N. Tower

Release Date:  February 2, 2005 [EBook #14873]

Language:  English

Character set encoding:  ASCII

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INSTRUCTIONS

ON

MODERN AMERICAN

Bridge building.

WITH

Practical applications and examples,

Estimates of quantities, and
valuable tables.

Illustrated by four Plates and Thirty Figures.

By G.B.N.  Tower,

Civil and mechanical engineer,

Formerly Chief Engineer U.S.  Navy, and late Chandler Instructor in Civil Engineering at Dartmouth College.

Boston: 

A. Williams & company,

135 Washington Street.

1874.

  Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1874, by
  A. Williams & Co.,
 in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D.C.

PREFACE.

This little treatise was written for the purpose of supplying a want felt by the author while giving instruction upon the subject.  It was intended for an aid to the young Engineer, and is not to be considered as a complete substitute for the more elaborate works on the subject.

The first portion of this work mentions the various strains to which beams are subjected, and gives the formulae used in determining the amount of those strains, together with a few examples to illustrate their application, and also the method of calculating a simple truss.

The second portion names and explains the various members of a Bridge Truss, and, by means of examples, shows the method of calculating the strains upon the various timbers, bolts, etc., as well as their proper dimensions; and gives, in addition, several useful tables.

The explanatory plates, which are referred to freely throughout the work, are believed to be amply sufficient for the purpose intended.

So much has been written on this subject that it is next to impossible to be wholly original, and no claim of that nature is preferred.  It is simply an arrangement of ideas, gleaned from the various works of standard authorities, and modified by the author’s practice, embodied in book form.  To give a correct list of all the books consulted would be simply impossible;—­but it is well to state that the Hand-book of Railroad Construction, by Prof.  G.L.  Vose, under whom the author served as an Engineer, has been used as authority in many cases where there has been a difference of opinions among other authors.  Some parts have been quoted entirely; but due credit has been given, it is believed, wherever such is the case.