Which bridge design is more likely to have internal stiffeners?

The most likely bridge design to incorporate internal stiffeners is the steel box-girder. This is primarily due to the unique structural characteristics and load distribution requirements of box-girder designs.

Box girders are hollow structures that can experience significant bending and shear forces. Internal stiffeners are introduced to enhance the rigidity of the girders, prevent buckling, and control deformation under load. By adding these stiffeners, the overall strength and stability of the box girder are greatly improved, allowing it to support heavier loads and span longer distances without excessive deflection.

In contrast, while other bridge designs like multi-girder and two-girder configurations may utilize stiffening techniques, they typically do so using external or visible girders, rather than requiring internal stiffeners to the same extent as box girders. Steel frame designs might not rely heavily on internal stiffeners since their structural integrity is often maintained through a combination of beams and columns, making the internal stiffeners less critical. Thus, the steel box-girder is the one that specifically benefits from the use of internal stiffeners to meet its performance needs effectively.