Which term best describes the structural component that transfers loads between substructure and superstructure?

• A. Deck
• B. Deflection
• C. Bridge bearing
• D. Buckling

Answer: (C)

Bridge bearings are the structural component that transfers loads between the superstructure and the substructure. They sit between the deck or girders and the supporting piers or abutments, carrying vertical loads from the bridge while allowing essential movement. By providing a controlled interface, they enable rotation and limited horizontal or longitudinal movement to accommodate thermal expansion, contraction, and dynamic effects like traffic and earthquakes, which helps prevent stresses from building up in the supports. The deck is part of the superstructure, deflection describes how members bend or move under load, and buckling is a failure mode from compression—none of these describe the load-transfer interface like bearings do.