Essential Civil Engineering and Road Infrastructure Terms

Structural and Roadway Terminology

• Action: Any cause that can produce a solicitation or effect on the structure or its elements.
• Sidewalk: A longitudinal strip, elevated or otherwise, intended for pedestrian traffic.
• Wing Wall: A structural element that contains the embankment sideways, retaining the slopes and protecting the bridge abutment.
• Anden: An elevated sidewalk.
• Support: A load-bearing structure or an element thereof.
• Shoulder (Arcen): A longitudinal paved strip adjacent to the pavement, not intended for vehicle use except in exceptional circumstances.
• Arch: A curved structural element designed to span a void.
• Railing: A sill composed of balusters and rails, generally thin, designed to prevent people from falling.
• Safety Barrier: A vehicle restraint system used along the margins of a road.
• Rigid Barrier: A barrier designed to minimize displacement during impact, resulting in lower magnitude forces on the support base.
• Curb: A sidewalk edge having a height greater than 5cm above the road surface.
• Causeway: A portion of the road intended for the movement of vehicles, consisting of a number of lanes.
• Wearing Course: The top layer of a bridge or lane, variable in nature and thickness, designed to facilitate transition, distribute overloads, and protect structural materials against wear and deterioration.
• Rail: A longitudinal strip, either shared or bounded by road markings, wide enough for the movement of a row of cars or motorcycles.
• Foundation: The structural member that transmits loads to the ground.
• Support Device: A device designed to transmit stall actions to the support.
• Abutment (Stirrup): A support structure at the end of a bridge that connects the structure to the embankment.
• Structure: A set of sturdy construction elements that form and support the whole.
• Pier (Battery): A support structure for a bridge deck.
• Pile (Pilote): A longitudinal element, driven or drilled into the ground, that transmits loads to deep soil layers.
• Platform: The surface of a deck limited by the extreme side edges of the superstructure.
• Parapet: A safety barrier specifically designed for the edges of bridge decks, berms, and similar works.
• Footing (Zapata): A solid concrete base that transmits loads to the ground.