The book addresses the basic principles of the conceptual design of bridges, and focuses on how to foster innovative ideas in the conceptual design by analyzing domestic and international successful examples. The main contents include the aesthetic issues in the conceptual design, the technical factors which should be taken into account, the plan selection and its key mechanical issues, the disaster prevention and the durability as well as the solutions for new problems met in the conceptual design, and finally this book introduces the features of the conceptual design of urban bridges.

This book could be used by bridge engineering graduate students, and also can be used for reference by engineers and research personnel.

Xiang Haifan is academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering. He was deputy chairman of International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering(IABSE). For a long time, he has been engaged in the bridge structural theory and engineering control research. In recent years, he has focused primarily on wind resistance of long span bridges, tall buildings and towering structures. His achievements involve bridge vibration and buffeting analysis, dynamic structural characteristics of bridges, wind-induced vibration and control of bridges. He was in charge of the research on wind resistance of most long span bridges in China, including Shanghai Nanpu Bridge, Shanghai Yangpu Bridge, Runyang Bridge, Sutong Bridge and so on.