Dead Load (Noun)
Meaning
A constant load on a structure (e.g. a bridge) due to the weight of the supported structure itself.
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- The dead load of the bridge's own weight was a significant factor in its design and construction.
- Engineers must carefully calculate the dead load of a building to ensure that its foundation can support it.
- The dead load of the highway overpass was increased when a new layer of asphalt was added to the driving surface.
- In designing a new stadium, architects had to account for the dead load of the massive roof structure.
- The dead load of the bridge's piers and abutments was a critical consideration in determining the required strength of the foundation.