COMPONENTS OF BRIDGES

A bridge is a structure built to span a physical obstacle, such as a body of

water, valley, or road, without closing the way underneath. It is constructed for the
purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, usually something that can be
detrimental to cross otherwise. There are many different designs that each serve a
particular purpose and apply to different situations. Designs of bridges vary
depending on the function of the bridge, the nature of the terrain where the bridge
is constructed and anchored, the material used to make it, and the funds available
to build it.

Various components and parts of a bridge such as superstructure, substructure,

bearings of concrete and steel bridges, their types, importance, functions are
discussed.

The bridge structure consists of the following components:

1. Superstructure or decking component

2. Bearings
3. Substructure Components

Fig: Semi-Through Section of a Concrete Slab Road Bridge

1.Superstructure Components of Bridges
The superstructure of the bridge structure consists of deck slab, girder, truss etc.
These components vary based on the type of bridge (whether concrete or steel or
composite). Superstructure of the bridge bears the load passing over it. This helps
in transmitting the forces formed by the loads to the below substructures.

Decks
The decking is considered as the road or the rail surface of the bridge. The decks
are supported by the girders or the huge beams that is in turn supported by the piers.
The whole arrangement is supported with a deep foundation mainly piles and cap
arrangement.

2.Bearings in Bridges
The loads received by the decks are properly and safely transmitted to the
substructure with the help of bearings. These are components of bridge that enables
even distribution of load on the substructure material. This transmission is very
essential in situations where the substructure is not designed to take the load action
directly.

The bearings in bridges allows the longitudinal movement of the girders. This
movement is created due to the forces acting on the longitudinal direction. The
forces due to the moving loads and the variation in temperature are the main causes
for longitudinal forces.
The selection of bearing is dependent on certain parameters, which are: Loads
acting, the geometry, the extent of maintenance, the clearance available, the
displacement, rotation and deflection policy, availability, preference of the
designer, the construction tolerances, and the cost criteria.

The bearings in bridges allows the longitudinal movement of the girders. This
movement is created due to the forces acting on the longitudinal direction. The
forces due to the moving loads and the variation in temperature are the main causes
for longitudinal forces.

The selection of bearing is dependent on certain parameters, which are: Loads

acting, the geometry, the extent of maintenance, the clearance available, the
displacement, rotation and deflection policy, availability, preference of the
designer, the construction tolerances, and the cost criteria.

For the bridge design, all the above-mentioned aspect is considered for the design
and the choice of bearings. The designer must consider the bearing arrangement in
the bridge construction as a separate system. In most of construction practice, the
bearing is selected or the decision for bearing is done in the last moment. This
results in increase of maintenance in the future, which must be avoided.

3.Substructure Components of Bridges

The components involved in substructure of bridges are:

1. Piers
2. Abutments

3. Wing Walls and the Returns

4. Foundation

Piers:
The piers are vertical structures used to support deck or the bearings provided for
load transmission to underground soil through foundation. These structures serve
as supports for the bridge spans at intermediate points.

The pier structure has mainly two functions:

1. Load transmission to the Foundation

2. Resistance to the horizontal forces

Most of the cases, piers are designed to resist the vertical loads alone. In areas
which lie in the seismic zone, it is recommended to design the pier for lateral loads
also. Most of the piers are constructed using concrete. Steel for the construction of
pier is used in very few cases till now.

Use of composite columns i.e. steel columns filled with concrete is used as new
technology of pier construction. The pier is a vertical member that resist the forces
by means of shear mechanism. These forces are mainly lateral forces. The pier that
consist of multiple columns are called as bent.
Types of Piers in Bridge Construction
There are different types of piers based on the structural connectivity, the shape of
the section and the framing configuration.

o Based on the structural connectivity, the pier can be classified as monolithic or

cantilevered.
o Based on the shape of the section pier can be classified as solid or hollow,
hexagonal, round or octagonal or rectangular.
o Based on the framing configuration the pier can be classified as single or multiple
column bent, hammerhead or pier wall type.

Abutments
Abutments are vertical structures used to retain the earth behind the structure. The
dead and the live loads from the bridge superstructure is supported by the bridge
abutments.

The abutments are also subjected to lateral pressures mainly from the approach
embankment. The design loads on the abutment is mainly dependent on the:

o Type of abutment selected

o The sequence of construction

The figure below shows the primary functions carried out by an abutment.

Fig: Abutments in Bridge Construction- Primary Functions

As seen from the above figure, the abutments have the design requirements similar
to retaining walls as well as in pier construction. The abutments are primarily
designed to resists the overturning and sliding. More focus is on the stability of the
whole system.

The special care has to be provided for the foundations of abutments. The abutment
foundation must overcome the problems of differential settlement and excessive
movements caused due to lateral forces or loads.

The below figure shows the components of abutments.

Fig: Abutments Components

Wing Walls and Returns
Structures constructed as an extension of the abutments to retain the earth present
in the approach bank are called wing walls. This portion will otherwise have a
natural angle of repose. These are retaining walls constructed adjacent to the
abutments. This wall can be constructed either integrally or independent with the
abutment wall.

The rear of the wall must consider three design loads while designing. This
includes:

o The earth pressure from the backfill

o The surcharge from the live loads or the compacting plant

o The hydraulic loads from the saturated soil conditions

The stability of the wing wall is mainly based on its resistance against the active
earth pressures. The structural elements of the bridges are hereby designed and
constructed to resist the earth pressures at rest.
Parapets and Handrails/ Guard Rails or Curbs
These components of bridges are not of structural importance, but provided for the
safety concerns. These are provided above the decks. This will help in prevention
of the vehicle from falling off the bridge into the water body below or as a means
for the separation of traffic streams.

Foundation of Bridges
Foundation are structures constructed to transmit the load from the piers,
abutments, wing walls and the returns evenly on the strata.

The foundation provided for bridge structures are deep in sufficient manner to
avoid scouring due to the water movement or to reduce the chances of undermining.