2022/3/9

Bridge Terminology

BRIDGE ENGINEERING

Kandahar University
Engineering Faculty
Civil Department

Samiullah Qani

Basic Components of a Bridge

 In general, all bridges are separated into a superstructure and a substructure.
 Substructure - Includes the piers, abutments and foundations.
 Superstructure - Includes the deck and all other structure.
 The connection between the substructure and the superstructure is usually made
through bearings.

1
 2022/3/9

Deck
 Deck is the main surface of a bridge over which traffic passes.
 Deck transmit loads to the Girders
 The purpose of the deck is to provide a smooth and safe riding surface for the
traffic.

Parapet
• Parapet is a railing system made of reinforced concrete along the outside edge of
a bridge deck used to protect vehicles and pedestrians.

2
 2022/3/9

Kerb
 Kerb a raised portion of road way slab on both sides .
 kerbs serve to lessen the chance of vehicles crossing onto the sidewalk.

Kerb

Bearing
 Bearings are supports on a bridge pier or pier cap.
 Bearing transmit all loads from the superstructure to the substructure.
 Permit longitudinal movement of the superstructure due to thermal expansion and
contraction.

3
 2022/3/9

Pier
 Pier is the part of the substructure that supports the superstructure
 Pier transmit loads of the superstructure to the foundations.
 The shape and size of pier mainly depend on aesthetics, site, space and economic
constraints of the construction.

Pier

Pier Cup
 The highest part of a bridge pier on which the bridge bearings are seated.
 Pier cup transmit loads from superstructure to the pier.
 Pier cap provides sufficient seating for the girders.
 Distributes the loads from the bearings to the piers.

4
 2022/3/9

Abutments
• The end supports of superstructure of a bridge are called abutments
• They transmit the load from the superstructure to the foundation
• The depth of abutment should be adopted based on calculations

Approach Slab
• The slab provided to join the approach road with the bridge is known as
approach slab.
• One of its end should rest on the backfill of the abutment and should extend
into the approach at least by 3.5m.
• It should cover the full width of road
• The thickness of the R.C.C approach road maybe adopted as 15cms

10

5
 2022/3/9

Approach Slab

11

Wingwall
o Wing walls are provided at both ends of the abutments to retain the earth
filling of the approaches.
o This wall can be constructed either integrally or independent with the
abutment wall.

Wing wall

12

6
 2022/3/9

Aesthetics
 The appearance is a measure of aesthetics

13

Backfill
• The material used to fill the space at the back of the bridge is known as backfill
• It may be broken stone, gravel, sand etc.
• It should be compacted at layers
• Cohesive backfill should be compacted in layers by rollers at optimum moisture
content to obtain the maximum dry density
• The backfill should be clean

14

7
 2022/3/9

Economical span

 The span for which the cost of super structure is equal to the cost of substructure

15

Diaphragm
 Diaphragm – structural element(s) that distribute stresses and improve strength
and rigidity.

16

8
 2022/3/9

Carriage Width
 The minimum clear width of a road way is called carriage width
 For a single lane bridge, the minimum carriage width should be a 4.5m
 For a double lane, it should be 7.5m
 For every additional lane, a minimum width of 3.5m must be allowed

17

Clear and Effective Spans

Clear Span: The clear distance between any two adjacent supports of a bridge is
called clear span

Effective Span: The center to center distance between any two adjacent
supports of a bridge is called effective span

18

9
 2022/3/9

Bedrock
The solid rock layer beneath sand or silt.

19

Bed Block
• The block resting over the top of the pier or abutment is called the bed block
• It provides bearing surface to the supports of superstructure
• Disperses loads from bearings to the pier or abutment more evenly

20

10
 2022/3/9

Culvert
 A culvert is a pipe or other type structure that allows water to pass under a road
or railroad.
 Usually the clear span of a culvert is less than 8m

21

Box Culvert
A rigid frame used for square or rectangular openings with spans up to 4m is
called box culvert

22

11
 2022/3/9

Vertical Clearance
The clearance between the high flood level and the lowest point of the structure
is known as vertical clearance.

23

Scour depth
 The depth up to which a flowing stream erodes soil is known as scour depth
 Scour usually occurs when the velocity of the flowing water increases or crosses
the limiting value that the soil particles can easily handle.

24

12
 2022/3/9

Afflux
 The rise in water level of the river near the bridge over the flood level due to
constriction of water created by the construction of piers, abutments and
wing walls is called afflux

25

Expansion Joint
 A gap between the structure is provided to take care of the expansion of the
member due to change in the surrounding temperature
 They are provided in the full depth of the member

26

13
 2022/3/9

Construction Joint
 Joint provided whenever placement of concrete has to be stopped temporarily
before the construction of the entire monolithic portion under construction is
called construction joint
 In concrete construction, it is a joint between two parts of a concrete structure that
are placed separately
 for instance, in a retaining wall, the footing may be poured first, and then after it is
set, say 24 hours later, the wall is poured. The joint between is called a
construction joint or “cold joint”.

27

Construction Joint
 Cold joints, or construction joints are usually placed where there is a natural time
difference between placements.
 Perhaps, you can only do so much in one day and need to come back the next day
to place the remaining concrete.
 The interface between the old and the new concrete is a construction joint.
 For example, when placing concrete columns, you generally will have a footing.
The construction joint will be between the footing and the column. This is because
they usually tie the bar for the footings, and a portion of the column, before placing
the concrete for the footing, or foundation.

28

14
 2022/3/9

29

15