THE BRIDGE THAT GOT THE HUMP

This article examines the pressures exerted on one of the arches of a rail viaduct near Plymouth, resulting in the weakening of the structure and the formation of a hump in the top surface. The pressures exerted were so severe that separation occurred between several courses of the brickwork causing a hump in the top surface of the viaduct. After tests British rail decided that grouting should stabilise the structure. The work carried out by a team of four men was completed within eight weeks. The article lists contributory factors as being pressure exerted by a high shillet embankment retained at that end of the viaduct, and water penetrating and lying within the structure causing adverse hydraulic pressure upon the arches, aggravated by the passage of trains. A special chemical grout was developed to cure these unfavourable conditions which would also allow for plenty of elasticity. Resin was pumped in through drill holes and simultaneously gravity fed into spaces left. Core was taken in drilling to avoid the risk of any of the separated brick rings being dislodged. After curing, the feed pipes were cut off flush to the surface. The arch soffit quickly dried out as the grouting proceeded and despite a hump being left full strength was restored to the arch. /TRRL/

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00107859
• Corporate Authors:

  IPC Building and Contract Journals Limited

  32 Southwark Bridge Road
  London SE1 9EX,   England 
• Publication Date: 1975-3-20

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 41
• Serial:
  • CONTRACT JOURNAL
  • Volume: 264
  • Issue Number: 4985
  • Publisher: Reed Business Information, Limited
  • ISSN: 0010-7859

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Arches; Brick; Bridges; Deformation; Embankments; Grout; Grouting; Loads; Mechanical elasticity; Pressure; Railroads; Repairing; Resins; Viaducts; Water; Water pressure
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• Old TRIS Terms: Railway
• ITRD Terms: 3373: Arch (structural); 4516: Brick; 3455: Bridge; 5595: Deformation; 4729: Grout; 5567: Load; 5412: Pressure; 3635: Repair; 8119: United Kingdom; 4355: Water
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Railroads; I61: Equipment and Maintenance Methods;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00129673
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 7 1976 12:00AM