FOREMAN DEFINITIONS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE & EXAM PREP
(2026/2027)
ABUTMENT: - correct answer ✔✔A substructure composed of stone, concrete, brick, steel, or
timber supporting the end of a single span or the extreme end of a multi-span superstructure
and, in general, retaining or supporting substructure composed of stone, concrete, brick, steel,
or timber supporting the end of a single span or the extreme end of a multi-span superstructure
and, in general, retaining or supporting the approached embankment placed in contact within. g
the approached embankment placed in contact within.
ANCHOR BOLT: - correct answer ✔✔A bolt like piece of metal threaded and fitted with a nut
and washer on one end only and used to fasten in a fixed position upon a bearing the end of a
truss or girder, a column base, pedestal, shoe, or other member of a structure. Also used to
anchor buildings.
APRON: - correct answer ✔✔A waterway bed of stream protection consisting of timber,
concrete, riprap, or paving placed adjacent to abutments, piers or wing-walls to prevent
undermining by scour.
ARCH BARREL: - correct answer ✔✔An arch ring that extends the width of the structure.
BACKWALL: - correct answer ✔✔The topmost portion of an abutment above the elevation of
the bridge seat.
BATTER: - correct answer ✔✔The inclination of a surface of a structural member in relation to a
vertical plane. Batter is commonly shown on bridge detail plane as a scale of inches to one foot
(grades or elevation).
BEAM: - correct answer ✔✔a rolled metal I-Shaped piece. An I-Shaped piece or member
composed of plates and angles or other structural shapes, united by bolting, welding or riveting.
In general, such pieces or members are described as built-up beams
, BEARING PAD: - correct answer ✔✔A thin sheet of material placed between a masonry plate
and the masonry bridge seat and used as fill any voids or imperfections of the masonry plate
and bearing surface, to seal and aid in even distribution of loads. The bearing pads may be
made of alternating layers of red lead and canvas, or sheet lead or of preformed fabric pads.
BEARING SEAT - correct answer ✔✔Top of masonry bridge bearing.
BENCH MARK - correct answer ✔✔Reference to the settlement or movement. A point of known
elevation. U.S. Geodetic bench marks may sometimes be found on tops of abutments, piers or
wing-walls
BENT - correct answer ✔✔A supporting unit of a trestle or a viaduct type structure made up of
two or more column-like members, the entire like construction is called a pile bent and when
framed members are used , it is a frame bent. A comparison would be a high-level wood
platform.
BOLSTER - correct answer ✔✔A block like member composed of wood, metal, or concrete used
to support a bearing on top of a pier cap or abutment seat. Also referred to as a pedestal.
BREAST WALL - correct answer ✔✔The portion of an abutment between the wings and beneath
the bridge seat. Sometimes termed face wall or stem.
BRIDGE SEAT: - correct answer ✔✔The top surface of an abutment or pier upon which the
superstructure span is placed and supported.
Butt Weld - correct answer ✔✔A weld joining two abutting surfaces by depositing weld metal
within an intervening space.
(2026/2027)
ABUTMENT: - correct answer ✔✔A substructure composed of stone, concrete, brick, steel, or
timber supporting the end of a single span or the extreme end of a multi-span superstructure
and, in general, retaining or supporting substructure composed of stone, concrete, brick, steel,
or timber supporting the end of a single span or the extreme end of a multi-span superstructure
and, in general, retaining or supporting the approached embankment placed in contact within. g
the approached embankment placed in contact within.
ANCHOR BOLT: - correct answer ✔✔A bolt like piece of metal threaded and fitted with a nut
and washer on one end only and used to fasten in a fixed position upon a bearing the end of a
truss or girder, a column base, pedestal, shoe, or other member of a structure. Also used to
anchor buildings.
APRON: - correct answer ✔✔A waterway bed of stream protection consisting of timber,
concrete, riprap, or paving placed adjacent to abutments, piers or wing-walls to prevent
undermining by scour.
ARCH BARREL: - correct answer ✔✔An arch ring that extends the width of the structure.
BACKWALL: - correct answer ✔✔The topmost portion of an abutment above the elevation of
the bridge seat.
BATTER: - correct answer ✔✔The inclination of a surface of a structural member in relation to a
vertical plane. Batter is commonly shown on bridge detail plane as a scale of inches to one foot
(grades or elevation).
BEAM: - correct answer ✔✔a rolled metal I-Shaped piece. An I-Shaped piece or member
composed of plates and angles or other structural shapes, united by bolting, welding or riveting.
In general, such pieces or members are described as built-up beams
, BEARING PAD: - correct answer ✔✔A thin sheet of material placed between a masonry plate
and the masonry bridge seat and used as fill any voids or imperfections of the masonry plate
and bearing surface, to seal and aid in even distribution of loads. The bearing pads may be
made of alternating layers of red lead and canvas, or sheet lead or of preformed fabric pads.
BEARING SEAT - correct answer ✔✔Top of masonry bridge bearing.
BENCH MARK - correct answer ✔✔Reference to the settlement or movement. A point of known
elevation. U.S. Geodetic bench marks may sometimes be found on tops of abutments, piers or
wing-walls
BENT - correct answer ✔✔A supporting unit of a trestle or a viaduct type structure made up of
two or more column-like members, the entire like construction is called a pile bent and when
framed members are used , it is a frame bent. A comparison would be a high-level wood
platform.
BOLSTER - correct answer ✔✔A block like member composed of wood, metal, or concrete used
to support a bearing on top of a pier cap or abutment seat. Also referred to as a pedestal.
BREAST WALL - correct answer ✔✔The portion of an abutment between the wings and beneath
the bridge seat. Sometimes termed face wall or stem.
BRIDGE SEAT: - correct answer ✔✔The top surface of an abutment or pier upon which the
superstructure span is placed and supported.
Butt Weld - correct answer ✔✔A weld joining two abutting surfaces by depositing weld metal
within an intervening space.
