a cover split in three elements

German term (edited): Deckelement

Jedes Stahl-Brückendeckelement wiegt 250 Tonnen und wird für den Bau des Fahrbahnträgers verwendet. Das Brückendeck wird von den 200 m hohen Pylonen zusammen mit den eingebetteten Ankerkästen und Seiltragwerken gehalten. Die Deckabschnitte werden über die nördlichen und südlichen Viaduktkonstruktionen mit dem Land verbunden. Diese Stahldeckeinheiten sollen vier Fahrbahnen tragen, die durch Fahrzeugrückhaltesysteme geschützt werden und ein speziell entworfenes Windschutzsystem erhalten.
https://www.google.de/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd...

A bridge deck or road bed is the roadway, or the pedestrian walkway, surface of a bridge, and is one structural element of the superstructure of a bridge. It is not to be confused with any deck of a ship. The deck may be constructed of concrete, steel, open grating, or wood. Sometimes the deck is covered with asphalt concrete or other pavement. The concrete deck may be an integral part of the bridge structure (T-beam or double tee structure) or it may be supported with I-beams or steel girders.
When a bridge deck is installed in a through truss, it is sometimes called a floor system.[1] A suspended bridge deck will be suspended from the main structural elements on a suspension or arch bridge. On some bridges, such as a tied-arch or a cable-stayed, the deck is a primary structural element, carrying tension or compression to support the span.
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Structural engineers have several principal categories of bridge decks, for the purposes of analytic techniques. A beam deck is one where the deck and any supporting structure act together as a single beam. A grid deck uses beams and diaphragms as the supporting structure. The supporting system of a grid deck is analyzed using a grillage analysis. A slab deck is one where the deck is analyzed as a plate. If the slab has a stiffness that is different in two directions (at right angles), then the deck is known and analyzed as an orthotropic deck. A beam and slab deck is one where the beams may deflect somewhat independently, and any transverse forces are carried in the deck. A cellular deck is one where a number of thin slabs and webs will enclose cells within the deck. A boxgirder deck is one where the deck forms the top of the box girder during analysis.[2]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deck_(bridge)

Bridge Structural Elements Diagram
Using the National Bridge Inventory rating scale (established by the FHWA), bridge inspectors rate these structural elements for each bridge:
Deck: The portion of the bridge that directly carries traffic.
Superstructure: The portion of the bridge that supports the deck and connects one substructure element to another.
Substructure: The portion of the bridge that supports the superstructure and distributes all bridge loads to below-ground bridge footings.
Culvert: Not pictured.) A pipe or small structure used for drainage under a road, railroad or other embankment. A culvert with a span length greater than 20 feet is included in the National Bridge Inventory and receives a rating using the NBI scale.
http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,4616,7-151-9618_47418-173584-...

Deck slab
The most common way of constructing the deck slab is to use precast concrete permanent participating formwork. Other formwork includes glass fibre reinforced plastic (GRP) and traditional timber plywood, the latter being commonly used for irregular areas such as corners of skew bridges and cantilevers
http://www.steelconstruction.info/Bridges_-_initial_design

10.3.2.1 Service Limit State
Concrete decks are designed to meet the requirements for Service I limit state (AASHTO Article 9.5.2). Service limit state is used to control excessive deformation and cracking. According to the California amendment (CA Article 9.5.2), deck slabs shall be designed for Class 2 exposure, therefore, γe = 0.75 (AASHTO Article 5.7.3.4)
10.3.2.2 Strength Limit State
Concrete decks must be designed for Strength I limit state. Because concrete deck slabs are usually designed as tension-controlled reinforced concrete components, the resistance factor is φ = 0.9 (AASHTO Article 5.5.4.2). Strength II limit state typically is not checked for deck designs. The permit vehicle axle load does not typically control deck design (CA Article C3.6.1.3.3).
https://www.google.de/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd...

4.2 Deck Slabs [5.13.1][9.7]
:
4.2.4 Deck Slab Design [9.7.2][9.7.3] (01/09)
A. Empirical Design Method: For Category 1 structures meeting the criteria in LRFD [9.7.2.4] and are not subject to either staged construction or future widening, design deck slabs by the Empirical Design method of LRFD [9.7.2]. In lieu of the minimum area and maximum spacing reinforcing requirements of LRFD [9.7.2.5], use no. 5 bars at 12-inch centers in both directions in both the top and bottom layers. Place two additional No. 5 bars between the primary transverse top slab bars (4-inch nominal spacing) in the slab overhangs to meet the TL-4 loading requirements for the FDOT standard traffic railings. Extend one of the additional bars to the mid-point between the exterior beam and the first interior beam; extend the second additional bar 36-inches beyond this mid-point. The maximum deck overhang is 6 feet, measured from the centerline of the exterior beam.
B. Traditional Design Method: For all Category 2 Structures and for Category 1 Structures that do not meet the requirements of LRFD [9.7.2.4] and are subject to either staged construction or future widening, design deck slabs in accordance with the Traditional Design method of LRFD [9.7.3]. For the deck overhang design and median barriers, the following minimum transverse top slab reinforcing (As), may be provided (without further analysis) where the indicated minimum slab depths are provided and the total deck overhang is 6 feet or less. However, for 8-inch thick decks with eight-foot sound wall traffic railings the deck overhang is limited to 18-inches beyond the outer edge of the top flange of the exterior beam. The extra slab depth for deck grinding is not included.
http://www.fdot.gov/structures/StructuresManual/2009january/...

Reinforced Concrete Decks
The three most common types of reinforced concrete bridge decks are :
Solid Slab
Voided Slab
Beam and Slab
Solid slab bridge decks are most useful for small, single or multi-span bridges and are easily adaptable for high skew.
Voided slab and beam and slab bridges are used for larger, single or multi-span bridges. In circular voided decks the ratio of [depth of void] / [depth of slab] should be less than 0.79; and the maximum area of void should be less than 49% of the deck sectional area.
http://www.bridgedesign.org.uk/parts/reinf.html

Conclusion: “deck element” is not as specific as “deck slab”, the dedicated term acc. MHO.