InTrans / Aug 14, 2018
Effectiveness of Glued-Laminated Components in Strengthening Timber Bridges
A series of tests on three bridges in revenue service have demonstrated that the installation of glued laminated components can be effective in strengthening timber bridges. The tests were conducted by the Association of American Railroads (AAR) as part of its Timber Bridge Life Extension program in the fall of 1996 on a Union Pacific (former Southern Pacific line) in southwestern Texas. These tests represent the second in two phases of testing in which load-path information was used to determine the short-term effectiveness of using glued laminated stringers to strengthen existing timber bridges.