Did the ironclad's guns damage its bridge?

Did the Dingyuan-class guns damage the bridge when fired forward?

Yes. Their blast could damage the bridge and threatened other structures, including the funnels.

Firing the Dingyuan-class heavy guns forward could tear up nearby structures. The arrangement was intended to let four 12-inch weapons fire ahead while concentrating armor and weight around the center of the ship. In practice, blast endangered the bridge and made even the funnels difficult to protect. The exchange shows how a geometrically attractive firing arc could become an operational liability once overpressure and exposed fittings entered the design.