A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Performance of a Historic 19th Century Wrought-Iron Through-Truss Bridge Rehabilitated Using Advanced Composites
In 1998, a historic bridge located in Valley Forge National Park, Chester County, Pennsylvania was rehabilitated using advanced composite materials. The bridge, built in 1886, is a wrought-iron through-truss that spans 19 meters and carries one-lane of vehicular traffic on Wilson Road over Valley Creek. Based on the deterioration of stringers that supported a timber deck, a bridge rehabilitation project was initiated. The solution chosen was to remove the stringers, and in their place, install a glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) slab. The weight of the slab was roughly one-half the weight of the existing stringers, thereby reducing the dead-load effects on the remaining structure. A wood wearing surface was installed on top of the GFRP slab to restore the deck to its initial condition. In 1998, a diagnostic load test was performed on the bridge using a pre-weighed truck. The purpose of the test was to quantify the structural response and establish the load carrying capacity of the restored bridge. Strains and deflections of the GFRP slab and the truss elements were recorded for two different truck weights and for various load passes. This paper will primarily focus on the performance of the GFRP slab as measured during the load test.
Performance of a Historic 19th Century Wrought-Iron Through-Truss Bridge Rehabilitated Using Advanced Composites
In 1998, a historic bridge located in Valley Forge National Park, Chester County, Pennsylvania was rehabilitated using advanced composite materials. The bridge, built in 1886, is a wrought-iron through-truss that spans 19 meters and carries one-lane of vehicular traffic on Wilson Road over Valley Creek. Based on the deterioration of stringers that supported a timber deck, a bridge rehabilitation project was initiated. The solution chosen was to remove the stringers, and in their place, install a glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) slab. The weight of the slab was roughly one-half the weight of the existing stringers, thereby reducing the dead-load effects on the remaining structure. A wood wearing surface was installed on top of the GFRP slab to restore the deck to its initial condition. In 1998, a diagnostic load test was performed on the bridge using a pre-weighed truck. The purpose of the test was to quantify the structural response and establish the load carrying capacity of the restored bridge. Strains and deflections of the GFRP slab and the truss elements were recorded for two different truck weights and for various load passes. This paper will primarily focus on the performance of the GFRP slab as measured during the load test.
Performance of a Historic 19th Century Wrought-Iron Through-Truss Bridge Rehabilitated Using Advanced Composites
Shenton, III, Harry W. (author) / Chajes, Michael J. (author) / Finch, Jr., William W. (author) / Hemphill, Scott (author) / Craig, Rick (author)
Structures Congress 2000 ; 2000 ; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
2000-04-27
Conference paper
Electronic Resource
English
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