Table of Contents
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| Golden Gate Bridge [1] |
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
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| Components of a Bridge [2] |
Characteristics of Bridges
Abutment
- 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.
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| Diagram of a Abutment [3] | Abutment [4] |
Beam
- 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.
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| Beam [5] |
Bent
- A bent is a structural element which is used to construct a trestle, and is a key support in many bridges.
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| Bent [6] |
Bridge Bearing
- 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.
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| Bearing [7] |
Counterweight
- 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.
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| Counterweight [8] |
Deck
- 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.
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| Deck [9] |
Elastomeric Bridge Bearing
- This type of bearing is designed to compress under a vertical load, allow for horizontal rotation and lateral shear movement.
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| Elastomeric Bearing [10] |
Foundation
- 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.
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| Foundation [11] |
Girder
- A girder is the main horizontal beam on a bridge. It is used to support the smaller beams located throughout the bridge.
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| Girder [12] |
Guard Rail
- A guard rail is the system of rails on the outside of bridges to prevent vehicles or pedestrians from falling off the bridge.
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| Guard Rail [13] |
Pier
- 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.
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| Pier [14] |
Pile
- 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.
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| Pile [15] |
Side Plate
- 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.
Superstructure
- The superstructure is the part of the bridge that absorbs the live load.
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| Superstructure Diagram [16] |
Types of Bridges (Page Link)
Bridge Use Cases
