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/publisher) For abstracts of previous reports in this series see IRRD 809570 and 816373.
Abstract