bridge dictionary

7/30/2019 Bridge Dictionary

1/7

BRIDGE DICTIONARY

A

AbutmentThe ground end-support of a bridge superstructure, especially to resist the horizontal thrust

of an arch and to connect bridges to its approach ramps. May also be used to retain backfillmaterial.

Anchor armThe side-span, usually of a cantilever bridge, from main pier to anchor or abutment pier,balances the cantilever.

AnchorageA secure fixing, usually in mass reinforced concrete, at the extremity of a side-span oranchor arm.

B

BeamA rigid, usually horizontal, structural element which may itself form an entire bridge.

BedrockThe solid rock layer beneath sand or silt, especially in a river-bed.

Box-girderA beam with a hollow square or rectangular section.

Brittle fractureThe fracture of steel elements at low temperatures or as a result of embrittlement.

C

Cable-stayed bridgeA bridge whose deck is directly supported from pylons by straight cables without verticalsuspenders.

CableThe staying or suspending bridge element; in modern suspension bridges, the mainsupporting cable is hung from towers, and from steel wire bound in strands.
http://jccbi.ca/know-more/bridge-dictionary/http://jccbi.ca/know-more/bridge-dictionary/


2/7


3/7

Compression zoneThe area under compression in the upper part of a simply supported horizontal beam.

Compressive strengthThe ability of a material to withstand compression.

ConcreteA mixture of water, sand, stone and a binding element which hardens to a rock-likeconsistency.

CounterweightA component of a moving bridge in which a balanced counterweight at one end of a spanfalls, causing the deck to rise.

CreepThe slow permanent deformation of material under long-term stress, as in creep of

concrete.

D

Dead loadA structures own weight

Dressing

The cutting of stone units to the required shape.

F

False workTemporary sharing during construction.

Fender

A protective enclosure around a pier structure.

FillThe material, usually rubble or earth, used to fill the space above or behind the outersurface of bridge structure.

FlangeThe flat top and bottom plates of a rolled section or of a plate or box-girder.


4/7

FormworkTemporary boarding, plywood or steel forms to hold concrete in shape while it hardens.

G

GalvanizingApplication by hot dipping or electroplating of a protective layer of zinc to a metal, chieflysteel, to prevent or inhibit corrosion.

Girder (main girder)A large beam, usually steel or concrete which generally supports other beams.

Glass fibreA reinforcing material with high tensile strength.

GraniteA hard crystalline rock, suitable for masonry bridges.

I

I-beamA beam or girder with an I-shaped cross-section.

K

King-post trussA truss consisting of a vertical post, connected to a horizontal beam by inclined tie-beamsor members.

L

Laminated timberLayers of timber clamped or glued face-to-face.

Lift bridge
http://jccbi.ca/know-more/bridge-dictionary/http://jccbi.ca/know-more/bridge-dictionary/http://jccbi.ca/know-more/bridge-dictionary/http://jccbi.ca/know-more/bridge-dictionary/


5/7

A form of moving bridge in which a hinged counterweight at one end of a span falls,causing the deck to rise.

Live loadThe weight of traffic passing over a bridge.

M

Moveable bridgeA bridge superstructure that is moved to provide clearance for large ships to pass, like adrawbridge.

N

Navigation spanThe part of a bridge with maximum clearance for shipping.

O

Orthotropic deckA bridge deck which is stiffer in the direction of the span than it is laterally. A steelorthotropic deck has a steel deck plate stiffened with ribs or troughs.

OscillationThe movement, usually due to wind, of bridge deck or bridge component in the wind.

P

PierAn intermediate support or the adjacent ends of two bridge spans.

Pneumatic caissonA caisson with a compressed-air chamber.

Portal
http://jccbi.ca/know-more/bridge-dictionary/http://jccbi.ca/know-more/bridge-dictionary/http://jccbi.ca/know-more/bridge-dictionary/http://jccbi.ca/know-more/bridge-dictionary/


6/7

A frame with side uprights connected by a horizontal member at the top.Pont dont lespoutres principales se prolongent en porte--faux et soutiennent des poutres de pluscourtes portes.

Post-tensioningThe method of making prestressed concrete elements with steel strands tightened after the

concrete has hardened.

Pratt trussA patent truss design with diagonals in tension.

PretensioningThe method of making prestressed concrete elements with steel strands under tension asthe concrete sets.

Prefabrication

The manufacture of structural units in a factory, usually off-site.

Prestressed concreteA more efficient type of concrete with stretched steel strands embedded in it toprecompress the concrete allowing it to carry higher load.

R

Reinforced concreteConcrete with steel bars or mesh embedded in it for increased tensile strength.

S

ScourThe destructive effect on submerged piers from fast-flowing water.

Shear forcesAny force that tries to cut or slice structural parts of the bridge. A sheet of paper undergoesa shear force when it is cut with a pair of scissors.

Side-swayThe movement of a structure from side to side in wind.

Soffit Underside?


7/7

The under-surface of any piece of structure.

SteelAn alloy of iron with more carbon than wrought iron but less than cast iron, combining thetensile strength of the former with the compressive strength of the latter.

SuspenderThe vertical elements on a suspension bridge that links a cable with a deck.

Suspension bridgeHas a roadway supported by a deck that hangs from two main cables which are attachedto supportive towers. Although similar to a cable stayed bridge, suspension bridges aredifferent because their roadbeds are suspended by two sets of cables (the two main cablesand the suspender cables which attach the road to the main cables). This type of bridgecan extend for well over 1 220 m (4 000 feet).

T

T-beamA beam or girder with a T-shaped cross-section.

Tensile strengthThe ability of a material to withstand tension.

TensionThe strain produced by twisting.

TrussesHighly stable beams which form a network of triangles.

W

WebThe vertical plates of a girder.

Wrought ironSoft and malleable alloy with very low carbon content; low compressive strength, hightensile strength.

bridge dictionary

Documents