Bridge abutments

The term bridge abutment, originally used only in the case of arch bridges, is now used in civil engineering to describe any structure that connects the deck of the bridge to the ground at the ends of a span. Abutments act as supports for the bridge superstructure and transfer the vertical loads, made up of the dead load and traffic loading, as well as the horizontal wind and braking loads into the subsoil. The abutments must also be able to safely absorb the loads from the embankment, e.g. the earth pressure.

Conventional methods using concrete can be used to secure the adjacent steep slopes and construct the abutments themselves, but geogrids in geosynthetic-reinforced soil systems (GRS) can also be used for this purpose. Another option is to use innovative system solutions to construct steep slopes. Special drainage grids and drainage mats tailored to the application are used to drain the backfill and the areas of the bridge structure that are in contact with the soil.