Full-Scale Laboratory Testing of a Timber Trestle Railroad Bridge Chord: Phase I

Details

• Creators:
  Gutkowski, Richard M. ; Doyle, Kimberly R ; Balough, Jeno
• Corporate Contributors:
  Colorado State University
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Field studies
  • Scale models
  • Long span bridges
  • Wooden bridges
  • Railroad bridges
  • Laboratory studies
  • Load tests
  • Railroad trains
  • Trestles
  • Bridge chords
  More +
• Resource Type:
  Research Paper
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States ; Colorado
• TRIS Online Accession Number:
  939312
• Corporate Publisher:
  Colorado State University
• Abstract:
  A laboratory test program was conducted on full-scale specimens replicating the main elements of a timber trestle railroad bridge chord. Previous field load testing had been done and was complicated by differing site-specific conditions. The purpose of the ongoing laboratory study described herein is to compare field test results with controlled laboratory tests. A three-span bridge chord similar to that of the field bridge was constructed. It was then disassembled and reassembled into a two-span, and then into a one-span, specimen. Load testing was conducted on each specimen to examine the service load behavior of the specimens. Single-point and two-point loadings were used to simulate single and double axles of trains. Comparisons were made between the laboratory results, elementary analytical beam models, and a semi-continuous beam model. Unintended uplift occurred at the supports in the laboratory test set-up. Analytical modeling was modified to reflect this and improve predictions of the response. Additional laboratory tests are recommended on a specimen with support conditions modified to eliminate the uplift. 68 p. This document is available in both HTML and PDF formats.
• Format:
  PDF
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/39743/dot_39743_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.56 MB]
• Collection(s):
  University Transportation Centers ; US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:f44986ff4e031a16cbb19267b1dbda0fb1bd1fcc50afb32cdec94ae1d0199e7c