Which term describes a pier comprised of a cap beam and a set of piles?

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Multiple Choice

Which term describes a pier comprised of a cap beam and a set of piles?

Explanation:
In bridge terminology, a pier that is formed by driven piles capped with a cap beam is called a pile bent. The cap beam sits on top of the pile group and distributes the loads from the superstructure into the piles, creating a discrete vertical support unit—the pile bent—that carries the pier loads. The other terms refer to different things: a plan is a top-down drawing view, plan and profile are drawings showing horizontal and vertical alignment, and a plate girder is a type of main span beam, not a pile-based pier.

In bridge terminology, a pier that is formed by driven piles capped with a cap beam is called a pile bent. The cap beam sits on top of the pile group and distributes the loads from the superstructure into the piles, creating a discrete vertical support unit—the pile bent—that carries the pier loads.

The other terms refer to different things: a plan is a top-down drawing view, plan and profile are drawings showing horizontal and vertical alignment, and a plate girder is a type of main span beam, not a pile-based pier.

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