In which bridge type is the deck not the load-carrying system?

• A. Suspension Bridge
• B. Beam / Girder Bridge
• C. Arch Bridge
• D. Cable-stayed Bridge

Answer: (B)

The key idea is how loads travel through the structure. In a beam or girder bridge the main load-carrying members are the girders that span between supports, resisting bending and transferring loads to the piers. The deck is essentially a riding surface that sits on top of those girders and distributes traffic loads into them, but it does not carry the span loads itself. So, in this type, the deck is not the primary load-carrying system. This contrasts with the other designs where cables or arches carry the main loads, with the deck acting mainly as a platform connected to those load paths.