Bridges

Cantilever bridge

A bridge in which each span is constructed from cantilevers built out sideways from piers.

Cable stayed bridge

A bridge in which the weight of the deck is supported by a number of cables running directly to one or more towers.

Suspension Bridge

A bridge in which the weight of the deck is supported by vertical cables suspended from larger cables that run between towers and are anchored in abutments at each end.

Compression

A pressing force that squeezes a material together

Tension

A stretching force that pulls on a material

Truss

A triangular bracket of brick, metal, or stone to support various forces on a bridge

Truss Bridge

A truss bridge is a bridge whose load-bearing superstructure is composed of a truss, a structure of connected elements usually forming triangular units. The connected elements (typically straight) may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads.

Pier

A veritcal supporting structure, such as a pillar

Torsion

An action that twists a material

Arch Bridge

An arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. Arch bridges work by transferring the weight of the bridge and its loads partially into a horizontal thrust restrained by the abutments at either side.

Beam Bridge

Beam bridges , also known as stringer bridges, are the simplest structural forms for bridge spans supported by an abutment or pier at each end. No moments are transferred throughout the support, hence their structural type is known as simply supported.

Support

Bear all or part of the weight of; hold up

Floor beam

Horizontal members that are placed transversely to the major beams, girders, or trusses; used to support the deck

Span

The distance a bridge extends between two supports, to traverse a specific distance

Tower

The vertical structure in a suspension bridge or cable-stayed bridge from which cables are hung; also used loosely as a synonym for the term skyscraper

Load

Weight distrubution throughout a structure; loads caused by wind, earthquakes, and gravity, for example, affect how weight is distributed throughout a structure