October 23, 2018

CASE STUDY OF THE

GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE
(San Francisco)

presented by
Mujahid Faraz (B.tech 2nd year).
Sachin Goyal (B.Tech 2nd year).

Department of Civil Engineering.

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY,
WARANGAL-506004.
THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE
The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the
longest suspension bridges (the
longest until 1964) in the world. Built
across the Golden Gate or the opening
of the San Francisco Bay into the
Pacific Ocean, the Golden Gate Bridge
is a symbol of great engineering feats.
Connecting the city of San Francisco
and California, the Golden Gate is a
well-known civil engineering symbol
not only in America, but throughout
the world.
SUSPENSION BRIDGE

Suspension bridge is a type of bridge which has cables

between towers (so called “suspension cables”) and
from them vertical “suspender cables” (or hangers”)
that hold the deck. Suspension cables are anchored
at each end of the bridge and they carry the majority
of the load.
 CONSTRUCTION
The Golden Gate was designed and constructed under the
supervision of chief engineer, Joseph Strauss. The construction
began in January ,1933 with an estimated cost of $35 million
dollars. The main materials used to make the Golden Gate Bridge
were 75,293,000 kg of steel ; two main cables, each made of
27,572 strands of wire; 600,000 rivets in each of the towers; and
concrete.
The Golden Gate bridge is a suspension bridge. Pylons are
constructed on solid ground under the water. Cables are draped
between the pylons and attached to the ground on each end of
the bridge. The roadway is suspended from the suspension cable
by a series of suspenders.
 DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION STATISTICS

LENGTH, WIDTH, HEIGHT, WEIGHT.

*Length of main span portion of suspended structure (distance
between towers) is 1,280 m.
*Length of one side span is (345 m).
*Total length of Bridge including approaches from abutment to
abutment, plus the distance to the Toll Plaza, is 2,788 m.
*Width of Bridge is 27 m.
* Clearance above mean higher high water is 67 m.
* Total weight of each anchorage is 54,400,000 kg.
* Combined weight of Bridge, anchorages, and approaches is
811,500,000 kg.

BRIDGE DEFLECTION, LOAD CAPACITY.

*At mid span, the maximum downward deflection (or the
distance the Bridge was built to move downward) is 3.3 m. The
maximum upward deflection is 1.8 m.
*The maximum transverse deflection, at center span is 8.4 m.
*The three maximum deflections at the center of the suspension
bridge are due to the following loading conditions:
1. The transverse deflection is due to a sustained transverse
wind load.
2. The maximum downward deflection is due to a condition
with maximum live load on the center span, no live load on
the side span.
 3. The maximum upward deflection is due to a condition
opposite to condition 2 above, with maximum live load on side
spans, no live load on center span.
*Live load capacity per lineal foot is 4,000 lbs (1,814.4 kg).

MAIN TOWERS STATS.,

*The Golden Gate Bridge has two main towers that support the two
main cables.
*The height of a tower above water is 227 m.
*Tower base dimension (each leg) is 10 m x 16 m.
*The load on each tower from main cables is 56,000,000 kg.
*The weight of both main towers is 40,200,000 kg.
*Transverse deflection of towers is 0.32 m.
*Longitudinal deflection of towers (shoreward) is 0.56 m and
(channelward) is 0.46 m.
 MAIN CABLE STATS.,
*The Golden Gate Bridge has two main cables which pass over the
tops of the two tall towers.
*Diameter of each main cable including the exterior wrapping is 0.92
m.
*Length of each main cable is 2,332 m.
*Weight of both main cable, suspender cables, and accessories
is 22,200,000 kg.
SUSPENDER ROPE (VERTICAL ONES) STATS.,
*The Golden Gate Bridge has 250 pairs of vertical suspender ropes
that are spaced 50 feet apart across both sides of the Bridge.
* Each suspender rope is 2-11/16 inches in diameter.
CONCRETE QUANTITIES
Concrete Quantities (as Cubic Meters
built)

San Francisco Pier and 99,400.

Fender
Marin pier 18,000
Anchorages, Pylons, and 139,160
Cable Housing
Approaches 21,800
Paving 19,115
TOTAL 297,475

STRUCTURAL STEEL CONCRETE

part tons
Main Towers 44,400
Suspended Structure 24,000
Anchorages 4,400
Approaches 10,200
TOTAL 83,000
REFERENCES:

1) www.goldengatebridge.org
2) www.archinomy.com

*THANK YOU*