federation internationale du beton (fib)
International federation for structural concrete
Case Postale 88, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
Phone +41 21 693 2747 * Fax +41 21 693 6245
fib@epfl.ch * www.fib-international.org


For immediate release


Press contact:  Laura Thommen-Vidale, Editor
Email:  laura.thommen-vidale@epfl.ch
Tel.:  +41 21 693 2747
Fax:  +41 21 693 6245
Press area: www.fib-international.org/press


Lausanne, 19 December 2005
ref. PR05006

fib Bulletin 32: Guidelines for the design of footbridges

The latest fib Bulletin, number 32, "Guidelines for the design of footbridges", is now available for purchase from the fib secretariat.

Until the publication of Bulletin 32, there was no international guidance document dedicated solely to the design of footbridges. Structural engineers designing footbridges were therefore obliged to spend considerable time and energy collecting information from numerous sources in order to make design decisions.

fib Bulletin 32, published in November 2005, was drafted by a group of international experts to fill this gap and provide a concentrated source of information regarding all design issues specific to footbridges, bridges for cyclists and bridleways (equestrian paths). It is meant to be a "liberal" document, in that it promotes new, innovative and bold yet prudent designs by sharing the experience of the authors, summarizing specifications given in codes, and presenting a collection of examples of well-designed structures or structural details from around the world. It is not intended to be an international code that specifies limits and admissible values, thus encouraging timid, conservative designs that are repetitions of approved and tested designs. Indeed, it may be the very fact that no international code exists specifically for footbridges that encourages the wide variety of footbridge designs found today.

It should be noted that numerous guidelines, codes and books have been published on bridge design in general. Information given in those publications that is also applicable to footbridges is not repeated in Bulletin 32.

All of the chapters include an introduction to the topic, a summary of information found in existing international codes, recommendations, experience of the authors and examples, with comparison and comments on this information. Illustrations and photographs help to visualize the topics addressed in this Bulletin. The last chapter presents case studies of existing footbridges, each with a short summary of main structural data and references for further reading.

A review copy of this Bulletin can be provided on request.

Pages: 158
Price: CHF 100 (non-member price), including surface mail
ISBN 2-88394-072-X
To order this Bulletin, use the order form at www.fib-international.org/publications/order/.


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Note: On request, the text of this press release can be provided in French or German