Bridges

Front

What is a bridge?

Back

A structure built to span a physical obstacle, such as a body of water, valley, or road, allowing for the passage of vehicles and pedestrians.

Front

What is the dead load of a bridge?

Back

The weight of the bridge itself, including all permanent components such as beams, cables, and the deck.

Front

What is the live load of a bridge?

Back

The weight of the traffic and any other movable loads that the bridge must support.

Front

What is an abutment in bridge construction?

Back

A structure that supports the ends of a bridge and helps to transfer loads to the ground.

Front

What is a keystone in an arch bridge?

Back

The central stone at the top of an arch that locks the arch together and helps distribute weight.

Front

What type of forces does a truss bridge primarily resist?

Back

Tension forces, which pull on the members of the truss.

Front

What is a span in bridge terminology?

Back

The distance between two bridge supports.

Front

What is a suspension bridge?

Back

A type of bridge in which the deck is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders.

Front

What is a truss bridge?

Back

A bridge that uses a truss, a structure made of connected elements forming triangular units, to support the load.

Front

What is shear force in bridge engineering?

Back

A force that acts perpendicular to the length of a structural element, causing it to slide.