Structural Analysis and Load Test of a Nineteenth-Century Iron Bowstring Arch-Truss Bridge
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 18, Issue 3
Abstract
A structural study examines the oldest remaining metal bridge in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a wrought-iron bowstring arch truss, designed and manufactured by the King Iron Bridge Company. Finite-element analysis is used to evaluate the interaction between the arch and truss, and the results are compared with field measurements from a live-load test. The study reveals that diagonal truss elements decrease arch bending by distributing concentrated vertical loads along the arch toward the abutments in a way consistent with that of modern network arch bridges. When the truss diagonals are absent, the vertical bridge-deck deflection is doubled. Underslung portal frames provide lateral stiffness to the arch, an innovation that accommodates a shallow arch profile conducive to transportation and erection.
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Acknowledgments
The authors recognize Howard Newlon Jr., Wally McKeel, and Dan Diebler of the VTRC for leading the effort to save this historic bridge in the 1970s. Ann Miller of the VTRC provided valuable access to historic bridge records. The authors express their gratitude to Hal Coleman and his colleagues in the VDOT Structure & Bridge Division for performing the bridge inspection and accommodating a load test of the Ironto Wayside Footbridge and to the reviewers for their helpful comments. Clara Cox volunteered her time to edit the paper. This research was supported by the National Science Foundation through a Graduate Research Fellowship to E. E. Shapiro.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 18 • Issue 3 • March 2013
Pages: 261 - 271
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 5, 2011
Accepted: Nov 17, 2011
Published online: Nov 19, 2011
Published in print: Mar 1, 2013
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