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Table of Contents


Golden Gate Bridge

What are Bridges?

A bridge is a structural component built to span a physical obstacle, such as water, a valley, or road.
The purpose of a bridge it to allow passage over the obstacle


Components of a Bridge

Abutments are the elements at the end of a bridge.
They absorb the forces exerted on the bridge and act as a retaining wall that prevent the earth from moving under the bridge.


Diagram of a Abutment	Abutment

A beam is a structural component on a bridge which resists loads applied to it and responding with reaction forces at the support points of the beam.


Beam

A bent is a structural element which is used to construct a trestle, and is a key support in many bridges.


Bent

A bridge bearing is the resting surface between the piers and deck of a bridge.
This allows for controlled movement due to thermal expansion or contraction as well as any seismic shaking that may occur.
Different bearings allow for back and forth motion while others can allow twisting as well.


Bearing

A counterweight is used on bridges that have a bridge lift system
A counterweight is a weight that stabilizes and provides balance for this bridge lift system.


Counterweight

The deck of a bridge is also known as the roadway. It allows for vehicles and pedestrians to travel across the bridge.
Decks are usually constructed of either concrete, steel, or wood. They are then covered with asphalt or concrete.


Deck

This type of bearing is designed to compress under a vertical load, allow for horizontal rotation and lateral shear movement.


Elastomeric Bearing

The foundation is the element that connects the bridge to the earth and allows for loads to be transferred from the bridge to the ground.


Foundation

A girder is the main horizontal beam on a bridge. It is used to support the smaller beams located throughout the bridge.


Girder

A guard rail is the system of rails on the outside of bridges to prevent vehicles or pedestrians from falling off the bridge.


Guard Rail

A pier is utilized in bridges that span a body of water.
The pier is the structure that sits in a body of water to support the bridge.
Piers are spread out under a bridge to allow water to flow through so that pressure is not built up against the piers.


Pier

A pile is a vertical support that is used to hold up a bridge.
A pile is hammered down to the hard sub layer of earth and is constructed of wood, concrete, or steel.


Pile

A side plate is a linear bearing that is part of the expansion joint of a bridge.
One plate is fixed while the other is able to slide to accommodate expansion and contraction.