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David Blockley expertly describes the processes, relationships, materials and philosophies of engineering. (Hugh Pouliot, Canadian Geographic )
Engaging and thoughtful book. Bridges deserve our attention. (David Rooney. History Today )
Engaging and thoughtful book. Bridges deserve our attention. (David Rooney. History Today )
Product Description
Bridges touch all our lives - every day we are likely to cross a bridge, or go under one. How many of us stop to consider how the bridge stands up and what sort of people designed and built something so strong? Bridge building is a magnificent example of the practical and every day use of science. However, the story of bridges goes beyond science and technology, and involves issues relating to artistic and cultural development. After all, bridges are built by people, for people. Bridges can be icons for whole cities; just consider New York's Brooklyn Bridge, London's Tower Bridge, and Sydney's Harbour Bridge. Such bridges can be considered functional public art, as they have the power to delight or be an eyesore. David Blockley explains how to read a bridge, in all its different forms, design, and construction, and the way the forces flow through arches and beams. He combines the engineering of how bridges stand up with the cultural, aesthetic, and historical importance they hold. Drawing on examples of particular bridges from around the world, he also looks in detail at the risk engineers take when building bridges, and examines why things sometimes go wrong.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book is written by a professor of engineering, but with the general reader in mind. Although it deals with technical matters, these are presented in a way that does not require a high level of mathematics or physics. It has 50 illustrations including many magnificent photographs.
The structure of the book is as clear as the structure of the bridges that it discusses. After an introductory chapter it considers the four main types of bridge in turn; beams, arches, trusses, and suspension. It then considers the question of safety, and finally the development and maintenance of bridges as team work.
Bridges are considered as works of art as well as civil engineering, and the book is very rich in references to other arts and to culture in the widest sense, with references to Newton, Kant, Michelangelo, Giotto, Palladio, Herodotus, Tracey Emin, Antony Gormley, and many others. David Blockley also considers bridges as symbols, icons, landmarks, and as objects of inspiration.
There are fascinating sections on many celebrated bridges including the wobbly Millennium Bridge, the Clifton Suspension Bridge, the Salginatobel Bridge, and the Millau Viaduct.
This is also a book that could be of value to schools. It brings maths and physics to life, and could be a vehicle for taking students on trips to visit bridges to see how these disciplines are used in practice in ways that are important as transport links as well as being imaginative and inspirational.
The structure of the book is as clear as the structure of the bridges that it discusses. After an introductory chapter it considers the four main types of bridge in turn; beams, arches, trusses, and suspension. It then considers the question of safety, and finally the development and maintenance of bridges as team work.
Bridges are considered as works of art as well as civil engineering, and the book is very rich in references to other arts and to culture in the widest sense, with references to Newton, Kant, Michelangelo, Giotto, Palladio, Herodotus, Tracey Emin, Antony Gormley, and many others. David Blockley also considers bridges as symbols, icons, landmarks, and as objects of inspiration.
There are fascinating sections on many celebrated bridges including the wobbly Millennium Bridge, the Clifton Suspension Bridge, the Salginatobel Bridge, and the Millau Viaduct.
This is also a book that could be of value to schools. It brings maths and physics to life, and could be a vehicle for taking students on trips to visit bridges to see how these disciplines are used in practice in ways that are important as transport links as well as being imaginative and inspirational.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
A fascinating introduction to the world's bridges for the general reader
11 July 2010
Format:Hardcover
This book is written by a professor of engineering, but with the general reader in mind. Although it deals with technical matters, these are presented in a way that does not require a high level of mathematics or physics. It has 50 illustrations including many magnificent photographs.
The structure of the book is as clear as the structure of the bridges that it discusses. After an introductory chapter it considers the four main types of bridge in turn; beams, arches, trusses, and suspension. It then considers the question of safety, and finally the development and maintenance of bridges as team work.
Bridges are considered as works of art as well as civil engineering, and the book is very rich in references to other arts and to culture in the widest sense, with references to Newton, Kant, Michelangelo, Giotto, Palladio, Herodotus, Tracey Emin, Antony Gormley, and many others. David Blockley also considers bridges as symbols, icons, landmarks, and as objects of inspiration.
There are fascinating sections on many celebrated bridges including the wobbly Millennium Bridge, the Clifton Suspension Bridge, the Salginatobel Bridge, and the Millau Viaduct.
This is also a book that could be of value to schools. It brings maths and physics to life, and could be a vehicle for taking students on trips to visit bridges to see how these disciplines are used in practice in ways that are important as transport links as well as being imaginative and inspirational.
The structure of the book is as clear as the structure of the bridges that it discusses. After an introductory chapter it considers the four main types of bridge in turn; beams, arches, trusses, and suspension. It then considers the question of safety, and finally the development and maintenance of bridges as team work.
Bridges are considered as works of art as well as civil engineering, and the book is very rich in references to other arts and to culture in the widest sense, with references to Newton, Kant, Michelangelo, Giotto, Palladio, Herodotus, Tracey Emin, Antony Gormley, and many others. David Blockley also considers bridges as symbols, icons, landmarks, and as objects of inspiration.
There are fascinating sections on many celebrated bridges including the wobbly Millennium Bridge, the Clifton Suspension Bridge, the Salginatobel Bridge, and the Millau Viaduct.
This is also a book that could be of value to schools. It brings maths and physics to life, and could be a vehicle for taking students on trips to visit bridges to see how these disciplines are used in practice in ways that are important as transport links as well as being imaginative and inspirational.
3 of 6 people found the following review helpful
This is not for the "lay" reader
18 May 2011
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought this book because Publisher's Weekly said it was for the lay reader. Actually, it is more like a text book for a math class. I once planned to study engineering at the U of MN but so much math was involved that I changed my major. Now, many decades later, I hoped to to see some interesting facts about how bridges are built. I did plow through the book, although at times skipping pages. As far as "interesting" goes, I'd give it one star, but since the author shows he knows his subject, I'm giving it a three. But don't expect to be entertained.
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