Discover

An 'abutment' is an end support of a bridge superstructure.

Abutments are used for the following purposes:

★ to transmit the reaction of superstructure to the foundations.

★ to retain the earth filling.

★ to connect the superstructure to the approach roads.
An 'abutment' is also, generally, the point where two structures or objects meet.
Specifically, an abutment may be:

★ the part of a structure that supports an arch.

★ the tooth or teeth that support a fixed or removable bridge. It can be used between an implant and the crown.
'Abutment' is also a term used by civil engineers in dam construction; moving water from a large reservoir to a channel such as a spillway, there are smooth transition walls at both sides named abutments which minimize the water's energy loss.