TRUE STRENGTH OF PRE-1948 CONCRETE BRIDGES IN NSW

There are over 4000 bridges under the jurisdiction of the Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW (RTA). Of these bridges about one-third were built prior to 1949 when the design load was between 16 and 17 tonnes. 500 bridges were identified as being deficient to carry the proposed increased loading under the Mass Limit Review (MLR). The majority of these deficient bridges are pre-1948 designed bridges, 45 of which are reinforced concrete (RC) slab bridges and 115 of which are RC beam and slab bridges. These bridges are generally of short to medium spans (4 to 24 metres). A methodology was developed to assess the capacities of these bridges as close as possible to their true values. Six concrete slab bridges and nine concrete beam and slab bridges were proofload tested using two dedicated test trucks developed by the RTA . The maximum load applied to these bridges was 106 tonne gross vehicle mass (GVM). From the results of these tests, it became evident that in general these bridges, which were constructed before 1949 and designed for 16 to 17 tonne live loads, could satisfactorily carry loads of 45.5 tonne GVM, provided they are maintained in good condition. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD E204289.

• Record URL:
  http://arrbknowledge.com
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/085588567X
• Corporate Authors:

  AUSTROADS

  24-28 Campbell Street, P.O. Box K659, Roden Cutler House
  Haymarket, New South Wales  Australia  2000
• Authors:
  • PARVEZ, S M
  • Ariyaratne, W
• Conference:
  • AUSTROADS BRIDGE CONFERENCE, 4TH, 2000, ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA
• Publication Date: 2000

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 233-43
• Serial:
  • Volume: 2
  • Issue Number: AP-G64/00

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Beams; Bridges; Concrete; Conferences; Field tests; Loads; Reinforced concrete; Slabs; Tests
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• ITRD Terms: 8006: Australia; 3472: Beam; 3455: Bridge; 4755: Concrete; 8525: Conference; 6226: In situ; 5567: Load; 4794: Reinforced concrete; 3491: Slab; 6255: Test
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00822103
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• ISBN: 0-85588-567-X
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Jan 7 2002 12:00AM