Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Bailey bridge
References
Images
Bailey bridge Bailey bridge
Britannica AI Icon

Bailey bridge

architecture
Written by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  Encyclopædia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last updated

Quick Summary

Bailey bridge
Bailey bridge Bailey bridge over the Coppename River at Bitagron, Suriname.

The Bailey bridge is a type of military bridge designed for rapid construction. Invented by British engineer Sir Donald Coleman Bailey in 1940, it proved invaluable during World War II.

The bridge is constructed from interchangeable, high-tensile steel panels that are assembled using pins. Its key features include standardization and simplicity of its components, allowing for quick assembly in the field. The design also permits strengthening by doubling or tripling the girders and adaptability for longer spans with the aid of pontoons. This innovative design enabled the creation of spans up to 4,000 feet, as seen with a Bailey pontoon bridge over the Maas River.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
2 Britannica Sources
  1. Bailey bridge
  2. Sir Donald Coleman Bailey

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.