Bridge technical terms

[frazil]

I'm not a structures engineer, but I'm writing a report and need to describe a bridge. The bridge is an arched granite bridge (I'll see if I can find a picture) and I want to describe the top portion. I would refer to it as the superstructure or deck, but I'm not sure if that correct since it isn't a typical roadway resting on a frame.

 

[MA_PE]

The bridge is an arch. I would refer to your picture as looking at an endwall. The top part of the endwall over the arch I would refer to as the headwall.

There technically is no "superstructure" beyond the masonry arch. It provides support for the soil above that carries the load. The "deck" would be the pavement/roadway between the headwalls.

Hope this helps.

Another thing that we call the "endwalls" is "spandrel walls" with the area in question still being a head wall.

 

[frazil]

Thanks MA. What would you call the arched sides?

 

[MA_PE]

ConSpan arch bridges

not sure what you mean by the "arched sides". Are you refering to the underside of the arch itself? That would be the inside radius of the arch. The top is typically called the "crown" and the sides approaching horizontal is the "springline" area. The bottom of the arch is called the "foot"

I thought the Con-Span link might help.