A viaduct is a type of engineering structure built to allow the passage of a railway or road over an obstacle, generally a valley or a watercourse. The most famous viaducts are often road structures, but railway viaducts are also found, particularly in mountainous countries. Viaducts can be constructed of wood, concrete or steel, and their span can range from a few meters to several kilometers.
Viaduct: what is a viaduct and what is it used for?
A viaduct is a civil engineering work that allows you to cross a valley, a ravine or any other natural obstacle. It generally consists of several stone or concrete arches, supported by pillars, and linked together by metal chains or cables.
The first viaduct was built in 1804 by the French engineer Jean-Rodolphe Perronet. This was the Viaduc des Arts, which was part of the Boulevards des Maréchaux project in Paris. This work was inspired by Roman aqueducts, which were an integral part of the irrigation system of ancient Rome.
Today, viaducts are built to serve different functions: they can serve as a road or railway bridge, allow the passage of aqueducts or oil pipelines, or even be used as a water reservoir. Some viaducts are even equipped with cycle paths or hiking trails, making them very popular places for walking and relaxing.
Viaduct: the different types of viaducts.
A viaduct is a civil engineering work that allows you to cross a valley, a watercourse or a railway line. It is made up of a series of pillars on which arches are placed. Viaducts can be made of stone, concrete or steel, depending on their purpose.
There are different types of viaducts:
– Trusses viaduct: this type of viaduct is made up of metal beams connected together by transverse bars. Metal joists are generally made of steel.
– Arched viaduct: this is the most common type of viaduct. It is made up of pillars on which stone or concrete arches are placed.
– Mixed viaduct: as its name suggests, this type of viaduct is made up of both metal beams and stone or concrete arches.
Thus, a viaduct is a civil engineering work intended to cross a valley, a river or any other obstacle. There are different types of viaducts, suitable for different types of terrain and obstacles.