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Glite Dictionary
midspan

midspan

6.6
The middle part of a bridge or beam between its supports
  • noun
  • /ˈmɪdˌspæn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : punto medio
  • During the tests, the midspan load was crucial in determining the strength of the beam.
  • midspan deflection
  • midspan displacement

Examples

  • The engineers also redesigned the stage-one blades based on proven aircraft engine technology to eliminate the midspan dampers.

    Academic text (1994)

  • Based on a flexural wave theory, the midspan displacement is estimated to be 6.36 in. (161.5 mm) for the Control beam.

    Academic text (2017)

  • Table 4 summarizes the maximum impact force and midspan deflection.

    Academic text (2017)

  • Table 5 summarizes the maximum impact force and midspan deflection from Fig. 8 through 14.

    Academic text (2017)

  • The midspan displacement determined by the flexural wave theory is over-predicted for the Control beam.

    Academic text (2017)

  • The midspan displacement-time history plots of tested beams are presented in Fig. 8(a).

    Academic text (2017)

  • In Table 4, the PP-500 specimen has the largest midspan deflection because it fails by rupturing the tensile reinforcement.

    Academic text (2017)

  • The damage during loading was concentrated around the curtailment point of the CFRP fabrics at the midspan in both unstrengthened and strengthened parts of the beam where the plastic hinge formed.

    Academic text (2017)

  • Group I specimens, including polypropylene fibers, the midspan load versus deflection curves obtained from the static beam tests are shown in Fig. 6(a).

    Academic text (2017)

  • The engineer examined the midspan of the bridge to ensure its structural integrity.

Synonyms

middle
vsmidspan
∞ 1.0

The part of something that is equally far from its start and end

is specifically the central point or section of a structural element like bridge or beam
center
vsmidspan
  • US
679 1.0

The middle point of something that is equally far from all sides

is the middle along a length between two ends rather than equally from all sides
midpoint
vsmidspan
  • Specialized
10 3.5

A point exactly halfway between the two ends of a line or the sides of a shape

is the central section or point of a beam or bridge not always exactly halfway
midbody
vsmidspan
  • Specialized
6.5

The middle part of a vehicle, like a ship or rocket

is the middle part of a beam or bridge rather than vehicle bodies

Surface Forms

midspan singular
midspans plural

Morphology

midspan = span (transparent) = mid + span + mid

The meaning is directly derived from 'mid' (middle) + 'span' (the distance or section), so learners can readily infer 'midspan' as the middle point of a span.

Etymology

The word midspan is a simple compound of mid ('middle') and span ('the distance between two supports', like across a bridge or beam). So, midspan means the middle point or section of that span, which is why engineers check it for sagging or cracks.