BRITANNIA BRIDGE: STRESS INVESTIGATION BEFORE AND AFTER THE FIRE

The Britannia Bridge over the Menai Straits was completed in 1850. Traffic loading has significantly increased since Stephenson's day and several assessments of the possible strength of the bridge have been made. However, because of the manner in which the bridge was erected there has been doubt regarding the validity of some of the calculations. The bridge was formed of two rectangular tubes with a single line railway running through each tube. The tubes were erected such that they were continuous over five supports. Measurements under live rail loading and wind loading were made of deflections and strains in the structure. The reactions at each of the bridge bearings were also determined by jacking the tubes off the bearings. These latter measurements were to determine if the structure had significantly changed since the original erection. These measurements indicated that the bridge would be adequate to carry predicted traffic, but before this could be implemented, a fire severely damaged the bridge. Subsequent measurements were made to determine the effect of the fire on the stresses in and the condition of the bridge. (A) /TRRL/

• Corporate Authors:

  Institution of Civil Engineers

  One Great George Street, Westminster
  London,   United Kingdom  SW1P 3AA
• Authors:
  • Wardle, J B
  • LUCAS, J C
• Conference:
  • Institution of Civil Engineers, Proceedings
• Publication Date: 1975-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 177-193
• Serial:
  • Volume: 58
  • Issue Number: 1

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aerodynamic force; Bridge bearings; Bridge superstructures; Bridges; Deflection; Fires; Iron; Loads; Measurement; Measuring instruments; Mechanical relaxation; Railroad bridges; Railroads; Stiffeners (Plates); Strength of materials; Stresses; Structural analysis; Tests; Wind
• Uncontrolled Terms: Wind load
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• Old TRIS Terms: Railway
• ITRD Terms: 6155: Apparatus (measuring); 3455: Bridge; 1624: Fire; 7159: Iron; 5567: Load; 3435: Stiffener (bridge); 5544: Strength (mater); 5575: Stress (in material); 5573: Stress analysis; 6255: Test; 8119: United Kingdom; 2554: Wind
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; Railroads; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00127916
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 29 1975 12:00AM