What is a traverse?
A traverse is first and foremost a cross-member or cross-connection: an element that runs across or between other elements. The word comes via French from the Latin transversus, “across”. In construction, hydraulic engineering and military architecture it has several meanings. In English building language you will more often hear the equivalent terms given below, but “traverse” is used widely in Dutch, German and French.
1. Cross-beam or cross-connection
The most common meaning in building practice. Examples:
- Lifting beam (spreader beam): a steel beam hung from a crane hook, with the load suspended from it by several slings. The slings hang vertically, so long or fragile elements such as trusses, window frames or concrete panels are carried evenly and not squeezed by angled slings. In Dutch and German this is a hijstraverse or Hebetraverse.
- Cross-member between two columns, piles or scaffold standards, for example to support a beam or a pipe.
- Staging and exhibitions: aluminium trusses for lighting and rigging are called Traverse in German.
Lifting tip: only use lifting beams with a clearly marked safe working load, and leave crane lifts to trained, certified people. A home-made lifting beam is dangerous.
2. Through-route
A continuous route through a built-up area, or a crossing such as a pedestrian underpass beneath a railway.
3. Area behind a spillway
In Dutch hydraulic engineering, an overflow is a lowered section of a dike over which water is deliberately allowed to flow during high water. The traverse is the (agricultural) land the water then flows across.
4. Earthwork in fortifications
In fortification, a traverse is an earth bank on the rampart, set at right angles to the line of fire. It protects defenders from enfilading fire from the side. A hollow traverse contains a bomb-proof chamber.
Related terms
- Beam
- Box girder
- Flood spillway
- Bastion
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