Bridge cast-iron

Fig. 1.4. Magdalene Bridge built in 1 823 an the site of the ancient Saxon bridge over the Cam. The present cast-iron arches carried, until recently, loads far in excess of those envisaged by the designers. Fortunately, the bridge has now undergone a well-earned restoration.

There are, however, other ways of crossing water than by boat, and many millions of tons of iron in its various forms have been used in the construction of tunnels and of bridges. The first cast iron bridge in the world appears to have been that over the Severn near Colebrooke Dale about 1785. To-day steel is more commonly used, although the year before last (1949) saw the opening of a bridge of aluminium-alloy (p. 164). 

On account of their favorable properties and comparatively low price, bitumen paints have been used to protect concrete structures (foundations, bridge abutments), felt roofs, sheet-metal roofs, drinking water reservoirs, silos, pipes made from fiber-reinforced cement, concrete, steel and cast iron, and in vehicle construction (wagon underframes, car underfloor protection). 

A Iron bridge is built mainly from the element iron, it was the first bridge ever to be built of cast iron. It was built across the River Severn in England, in 1779. 

Cast-iron bridge Abraham Darby III and John Wilkinson build the hrst cast-iron bridge in England. 

The famous bridge at Ironbridge is made of cast iron. Opened in 1781, it was the first iron bridge in the world. Modern bridges are made of steel. 

The famous iron bridge in Coalbrookedale presents an exemplary homomorph. a timber arch reproduced in cast iron. However, the piece-part construction also suits the inconstant material, and wedged joints overcame primitive mould inaccuracies Prefabricated construction allowed the structure s reproduction in the West Indies, contributing to the slave trade in which early English manufacturing innovation was so deeply implicated. 

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