PARTS OF BRIDGE

The construction of a bridge involves the assembly of various structural elements, each with a specific purpose and function. These components work together to create a safe, durable, and efficient passage over obstacles such as rivers, valleys, or roads. Understanding the key parts of a bridge is essential for engineers, architects, and anyone interested in the field of civil engineering.

Foundation

The foundation of a bridge is the base that transfers loads from the piers, abutments, and wings to the supporting strata.

Piles- Piles are typically constructed to support a bridge and form the basic foundation. The piles allow the weight and pressures exerted by the bridge to be distributed uniformly through the earth, resulting in a solid and robust structure.

Pile Cap- Caps increase the load-transfer capability of the piles. Because they are built directly on top of the pile foundation, they are also known as pile caps. Caps are frequently built of very heavy concrete to provide optimum support to the bridge’s top section.

Footing – the larger, lower section of a foundation that distributes the structural loads to the ground or to supporting piles; the concrete slab is the most typical footing; footer is a local word for footing.

Substructure

The section of the bridge that supports the superstructure and transfers all bridge loads to the bridge footings below ground.

Abutments The abutments support the bridge’s ends and transmit weight from the superstructure to the ground. Additionally, the abutments provide support for the bearing devices as well as the rear walls. The majority of abutments are made of concrete.

Piers- A pier is a raised structure in a body of water that supports a bridge. Water can pass through the open structure of a pier, preventing pressure from building up against it.

Pier Caps- Pier caps are sometimes referred to as the headstock. This serves as a place for girders to carry weights from the top superstructure components to bearings (which distribute the stress across all the piers).

Wing Wall -The wing walls of a bridge function as retaining walls since they are near to the abutments. They are often made of the same material as abutments. The wing walls might be connected to or independent of the abutment. Wing walls are constructed at both ends of the abutments to preserve the soil filling of the approaches. Their design is determined by the nature of the embankment and is independent of the kind or components of the bridge.

Superstructure

The bridge portion that supports the deck and connects the substructure component to another.

Girders A rigid horizontal construction supported by two supports, one at each end. These components immediately sustain the bridge’s downward weight as well as any vehicles passing beneath it.

Trusses- A component of the structural frame depending on the geometry of the triangle’s strength.

Approach Slab- The approach slab bridges the gap between the roadway pavement and the bridge. The approach slab serves as an intermediate bridge, spanning the section of the embankment excavated to build the abutment/backwall.

Deck Slab- The Deck slab is the portion of the structure that is built over the girders and is utilized by cars to traverse the bridge. It also serves as a medium to bind the girders, since the load of the vehicle is received directly by the deck slab and transferred to the girders.

Parapet –   is a barrier built along the edge of a bridge to prevent motorists from falling or driving off the bridge. A parapet may also limit the ease with which things can be thrown over the edge of the bridge and/or act as a noise barrier.

Railings – is a barrier that prevents people or vehicles from falling off the bridge.

Expansion Joint- Expansion joints are designed to alter their length to accommodate movement or deformation caused by external loads, shrinkage, or temperature fluctuations, while still allowing continuous traffic between bridge spans and interconnected structures (another bridge or abutment).