SUPPLEMENTARY LOAD TESTING OF MELLOR SPODDEN CONCRETE ARCH BRIDGES

The two practically identical Mellor Spodden bridges were built in 1905 in Rochdale. Each structure consists of a reinforced concrete arch spanning onto reinforced concrete counterforted abutments 7.16 metres apart on the square span. These abutments are supported on precast reinforced concrete piles in prebored holes founded below old coal workings. Initial assessments suggested that the load-carrying capacity of the two structures was substandard but this did not accord with the results of inspection which indicated that both were in reasonable condition for their age. Further analysis indicated that if the abutments could be demonstrated to be substantially unyielding then a full 40 tonne assessment could be achieved by simple analysis. The abutment behaviour could not be predicted with any degree of certainty and supplementary load testing was proposed. Horizontal deflection of the abutment walls was measured to evaluate the overall stiffness of the abutment wall/fill/pile sub-structure system. There was some uncertainty regarding the reinforcement details, and hence likely structural behaviour, and appropriate monitoring of reinforcement strains was arranged to test alternative hypotheses. Both structures were re-assessed in the light of the results of the load testing and full 40 tonne capacity justified. (A) For the covering abstract see IRRD 882313.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0419212108
• Corporate Authors:

  E and F Spon Limited

  2-6 Boundary Road
  London,   England 
• Authors:
  • Clapham, P J
  • YOUNG, B K
• Conference:
  • BRIDGE MANAGEMENT 3. INSPECTION, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR. PAPERS PRESENTED AT THE THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BRIDGE MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF SURREY, GUILDFORD, UK, 14-17 APRIL 1996
• Publication Date: 1996

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 675-83

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Abutments; Arch bridges; Conferences; Deflection; Evaluation and assessment; Loads; Reinforced concrete; Stiffness; Tests
• ITRD Terms: 3424: Abutment; 3427: Arch bridge; 8525: Conference; 5586: Deflection; 9020: Evaluation (assessment); 5567: Load; 4794: Reinforced concrete; 5931: Stiffness; 6255: Test
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Planning and Forecasting;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00729506
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• ISBN: 0-419-21210-8
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Dec 26 1996 12:00AM