Pont Du Gard Bridge: Structural Performance and Environmental Analysis

This report provides an analysis of the Pont Du Gard bridge, focusing on its structural performance and environmental considerations. It examines the bridge's excellent durability and stability, even under flood conditions. The report details the arch mechanism of load transfer, the use of semi-circle arches, and the over-designed nature of the structure. It also addresses environmental issues related to carbonate precipitation and water flow reduction. The analysis includes answers to ten key questions about the bridge's construction, design, materials, and environmental conditions, along with recommendations for improving protective measures and ensuring water sustainability. The report references relevant research and provides a comprehensive overview of the bridge's engineering and environmental aspects.

Assignment

Pont Du Gard analysis
The structural performance of the bridge is excellent, and the flood has reached three-fourth of
the first tier height approximately, but the durability of the structure has maintained the stability,
strength and aesthetic look of the bridge. The loading path is a mechanism of an arch in which
the forces acts on the arch are transferred by the arch as compression forces and when the forces
reach the element of import then horizontally forces cancel out and lastly the forces down into
the piers (Chanson et al., 2015). The simple rule is followed by Romans that is the basic rule of
thumb due to which semi-circle arches were used in the Roman Empire. It is assumed that the
acting loads will not lead to the structure failure and it is supported by the foundation. The
dynamics of the bridge design comprises of semi-circle arches in which the top arch is 4.80 m
each and high 7.40m and the water channel of 1.20 wide with 1.70 height (Retrieved 12 February
2017 et al., 2017). The structure has greatly overdesigned which stressed less than but the
structure could have built with the less material. The results were also astonishing because it
does not only strengthen the concrete, but it also minimizes the defects of water. The structure is
durable as it maintains strength without failing with the flow of stream and water (Norwich et al.,
2014). The issue is related to the environmental problems and maintaining the aqueduct because
the carbonates precipitated out of the water through the conduit at the time of journey which
reduced the flow of water and it is the sustainability issue which needs to be maintained. It is
recommended to improve the protective measures towards the water pollution in order to provide
fresh water to the people and sustainability measure must be taken for maintaining the water
availability for future generation.
Following are the ten questions:

1. In which period the construction has been started and who was the constructor?
2. Who has designed Pont Du Gard Bridge and how the location has been selected for
building the bridge?
3. What are the environment conditions which were considered at the time of building the
bridge?
4. What were the materials used to build the bridge?
5. How the arch structure was improved by the Romans?
6. What was the total cost of building the bridge and who was the owner?
7. How the geometrical and technical drawings including foundation supports to develop
the durable bridge?
8. What was the type of construction and what was the main reason for building the bridge?
9. What was the location advantage for developing the bridge at the edge of Gardon River?
10. How the examination of Pont Du Gard Bridge has been done and what are the properties
of bridge?

References
(2017). Retrieved 12 February 2017, from
https://s3.amazonaws.com/prod_object_assets/assets/270307193912470/
Group_3_Pont_du_Gard.pdf?
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Chanson, H. (2015). Hydraulic engineering and roman aqueducts: modern perspectives. In IV
Jornadas de Ingeniería del Agua (pp. 21-30). University of Córdoba.

Norwich, J. J. (Ed.). (2014). Cities that Shaped the Ancient World. Thames & Hudson.