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Timber Arch Bridges with V-shaped Hangers

Crocetti, Roberto LU ; Branco, Jorge M. and Barros, Jorge F. (2019) In Structural Engineering International 29(2). p.261-267
Abstract

The arch is a very efficient load bearing structure, especially when its shape is affine to the funicular of forces. However, if live loads are predominant as compared to permanent uniformly distributed gravity loads, the arch will be subjected to substantial bending moments, thus losing a great part of its structural efficiency. In traditional arch bridges with hangers arranged in a vertical manner, asymmetrical loads would cause a substantial deviation of the pressure line from the axial line of the arch. In this paper, an innovative concept for timber arch bridges is introduced where V-shaped hangers, rather than vertical hangers, are used. The adoption of V-shaped hangers significantly contributes to the reduction of the... (More)

The arch is a very efficient load bearing structure, especially when its shape is affine to the funicular of forces. However, if live loads are predominant as compared to permanent uniformly distributed gravity loads, the arch will be subjected to substantial bending moments, thus losing a great part of its structural efficiency. In traditional arch bridges with hangers arranged in a vertical manner, asymmetrical loads would cause a substantial deviation of the pressure line from the axial line of the arch. In this paper, an innovative concept for timber arch bridges is introduced where V-shaped hangers, rather than vertical hangers, are used. The adoption of V-shaped hangers significantly contributes to the reduction of the eccentricity between the pressure line and the axial line of the arch, thus decreasing the magnitude of bending moments in the arch. The paper discusses the advantages of using V-shaped hangers as an alternative to vertical hangers, both in terms of statics, in-plane stability and dynamic efficiency. Moreover, the design and the recent construction of a parabolic three-hinged arch made of timber, with a steel V-shaped hanger is thoroughly discussed in the paper.

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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Arch bridges, buckling, timber structures, V-shaped, vibrations
in
Structural Engineering International
volume
29
issue
2
pages
7 pages
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:85064940681
ISSN
1016-8664
DOI
10.1080/10168664.2018.1516124
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
451f9404-0d1e-492c-a20c-267ecfd9fe01
date added to LUP
2019-05-16 09:27:49
date last changed
2022-04-10 08:35:49
@article{451f9404-0d1e-492c-a20c-267ecfd9fe01,
  abstract     = {{<p>The arch is a very efficient load bearing structure, especially when its shape is affine to the funicular of forces. However, if live loads are predominant as compared to permanent uniformly distributed gravity loads, the arch will be subjected to substantial bending moments, thus losing a great part of its structural efficiency. In traditional arch bridges with hangers arranged in a vertical manner, asymmetrical loads would cause a substantial deviation of the pressure line from the axial line of the arch. In this paper, an innovative concept for timber arch bridges is introduced where V-shaped hangers, rather than vertical hangers, are used. The adoption of V-shaped hangers significantly contributes to the reduction of the eccentricity between the pressure line and the axial line of the arch, thus decreasing the magnitude of bending moments in the arch. The paper discusses the advantages of using V-shaped hangers as an alternative to vertical hangers, both in terms of statics, in-plane stability and dynamic efficiency. Moreover, the design and the recent construction of a parabolic three-hinged arch made of timber, with a steel V-shaped hanger is thoroughly discussed in the paper.</p>}},
  author       = {{Crocetti, Roberto and Branco, Jorge M. and Barros, Jorge F.}},
  issn         = {{1016-8664}},
  keywords     = {{Arch bridges; buckling; timber structures; V-shaped; vibrations}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{261--267}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Structural Engineering International}},
  title        = {{Timber Arch Bridges with V-shaped Hangers}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10168664.2018.1516124}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/10168664.2018.1516124}},
  volume       = {{29}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}