LOAD TESTS TO COLLAPSE ON TWO ARCH BRIDGES AT STRATHMASHIE AND BARLAE

TRRL is undertaking a research programme to re-examine the present method of assessing the traffic load carrying capacity of brick and stone arch bridges (usually referred to as the mexe method). The programme consists of the development of analytical models of their structural behaviour under load, and load tests at full and model scale to calibrate the analyses. This report describes the seventh and eighth in a planned series of full scale tests. Strathmashie bridge was a rubble masonry bridge with a span of 9.42m. The arch was in poor condition, with very little mortar being visible in places and with a serious longitudinal crack. Barlae bridge was an ashlar masonry bridge with a skew of 29 degrees and a (square) span of 8.53m, and was in reasonably good condition. Load was applied at road surface level on a 'line' the full width of the bridge between parapets at a quarter span. The maximum load applied to Strathmashie bridge before collapse was 1325 kn, and to barlae 2900 kn. The report describes the tests and compares the experimental results with theoretical analyses. (Author/TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/02665247
• Corporate Authors:

  Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)

  Wokingham, Berkshire  United Kingdom 
• Authors:
  • PAGE, J
• Publication Date: 1989

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 17 p.
• Serial:
  • TRRL RESEARCH REPORT
  • Publisher: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
  • ISSN: 0266-5247

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Analysis; Arch bridges; Bearing capacity; Calibration; Evaluation; Failure; Field tests; Loads; Masonry construction; Mathematical models; Scale models; Strength of materials; Tests; Traffic
• Uncontrolled Terms: Full scale
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 6471: Analysis (math); 3427: Arch bridge; 3085: Bearing capacity; 6171: Calibration; 9020: Evaluation (assessment); 5520: Failure; 6227: Full scale; 6226: In situ; 5567: Load; 4529: Masonry; 6473: Mathematical model; 6205: Model (not math); 5544: Strength (mater); 6255: Test; 755: Traffic; 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00493311
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Report/Paper Numbers: RR 201
• Files: ITRD, TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: May 31 1990 12:00AM