Components Parts of A Bridge

Components Parts of a Bridge –
Concrete and Steel Bridges Parts and

Details
Various components and parts of a bridge such as superstructure, substructure, bearings
of concrete and steel bridges, their types, importance, functions are discussed.
Basic Components and Parts of Bridge

Structures
The bridge structure consists of the following components:
1. Superstructure or decking component
2. Bearings
3. Substructure Components
Fig: Semi-Through Section of a Concrete Slab Road Bridge

Superstructure Components of Bridges
The superstructure of the bridge structure consists of deck slab, girder, truss etc. These
components vary based on the type of bridge (whether concrete or steel or composite).
Superstructure of the bridge bears the load passing over it. This helps in transmitting the
forces formed by the loads to the below substructures.
Decks
The decking is considered as the road or the rail surface of the bridge. The decks are
supported by the girders or the huge beams that is in turn supported by the piers. The
whole arrangement is supported with a deep foundation mainly piles and cap
arrangement.
Bearings in Bridges
The loads received by the decks are properly and safely transmitted to the substructure
with the help of bearings. These are components of bridge that enables even distribution
of load on the substructure material. This transmission is very essential in situations
where the substructure is not designed to take the load action directly.
The bearings in bridges allows the longitudinal movement of the girders. This movement
is created due to the forces acting on the longitudinal direction. The forces due to the
moving loads and the variation in temperature are the main causes for longitudinal forces.
The selection of bearing is dependent on certain parameters, which are: Loads acting, the
geometry, the extent of maintenance, the clearance available, the displacement, rotation
and deflection policy, availability, preference of the designer, the construction tolerances,
and the cost criteria.
For the bridge design, all the above-mentioned aspect is considered for the design and the
choice of bearings. The designer must consider the bearing arrangement in the bridge
construction as a separate system.
In most of construction practice, the bearing is selected or the decision for bearing is done
in the last moment. This results in increase of maintenance in the future, which must be
avoided.
Substructure Components of Bridges

The components involved in substructure of bridges are:
1. Piers
2. Abutments
3. Wing Walls and the Returns
4. Foundation
Piers
The piers are vertical structures used to support deck or the bearings provided for load
transmission to underground soil through foundation. These structures serve as supports
for the bridge spans at intermediate points.
The pier structure has mainly two functions:

1. Load transmission to the Foundation
2. Resistance to the horizontal forces

Most of the cases, piers are designed to resist the vertical loads alone. In areas which lie
in the seismic zone, it is recommended to design the pier for lateral loads also.
Most of the piers are constructed using concrete. Steel for the construction of pier is used
in very few cases till now. Use of composite columns i.e. steel columns filled with
concrete is used as new technology of pier construction.
The pier is a vertical member that resist the forces by means of shear mechanism. These
forces are mainly lateral forces. The pier that consist of multiple columns are called
as bent.
Types of Piers in Bridge Construction
There are different types of piers based on the structural connectivity, the shape of the
section and the framing configuration.
o Based on the structural connectivity, the pier can be classified as monolithic or cantilevered.
o Based on the shape of the section pier can be classified as solid or hollow, hexagonal, round or
octagonal or rectangular.
o Based on the framing configuration the pier can be classified as single or multiple column bent,
hammerhead or pier wall type.
Abutments
Abutments are vertical structures used to retain the earth behind the structure. The dead
and the live loads from the bridge superstructure is supported by the bridge abutments.
The abutments are also subjected to lateral pressures mainly from the approach
embankment. The design loads on the abutment is mainly dependent on the:
o Type of abutment selected
o The sequence of construction

The figure below shows the primary functions carried out by an abutment.
Fig: Abutments in Bridge Construction- Primary Functions
As seen from the above figure, the abutments have the design requirements similar to
retaining walls as well as in pier construction. The abutments are primarily designed to
resists the overturning and sliding. More focus is on the stability of the whole system.
The special care has to be provided for the foundations of abutments. The abutment
foundation must overcome the problems of differential settlement and excessive
movements caused due to lateral forces or loads.
The below figure shows the components of abutments.

Fig: Abutments Components
Wing Walls and Returns
Structures constructed as an extension of the abutments to retain the earth present in the
approach bank are called wing walls. This portion will otherwise have a natural angle of
repose. These are retaining walls constructed adjacent to the abutments. This wall can be
constructed either integrally or independent with the abutment wall.
The rear of the wall must consider three design loads while designing. This includes:
o The earth pressure from the backfill
o The surcharge from the live loads or the compacting plant
o The hydraulic loads from the saturated soil conditions

The stability of the wing wall is mainly based on its resistance against the active earth
pressures. The structural elements of the bridges are hereby designed and constructed to
resist the earth pressures at rest.
Parapets and Handrails/ Guard Rails or Curbs
These components of bridges are not of structural importance, but provided for the safety
concerns. These are provided above the decks. This will help in prevention of the vehicle
from falling off the bridge into the water body below or as a means for the separation of
traffic streams.
Foundation of Bridges
Foundation are structures constructed to transmit the load from the piers, abutments, wing
walls and the returns evenly on the strata.
The foundation provided for bridge structures are deep in sufficient manner to avoid
scouring due to the water movement or to reduce the chances of undermining.

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Components Parts of A Bridge

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Components Parts of a Bridge –

Concrete and Steel Bridges Parts and

Basic Components and Parts of Bridge

1. Superstructure or decking component

Fig: Semi-Through Section of a Concrete Slab Road Bridge

Substructure Components of Bridges

3. Wing Walls and the Returns

The pier structure has mainly two functions:

2. Resistance to the horizontal forces

o Type of abutment selected

o The sequence of construction

The below figure shows the components of abutments.

o The earth pressure from the backfill

o The surcharge from the live loads or the compacting plant

o The hydraulic loads from the saturated soil conditions

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