Why and when to test your timber bridges: some case studies

The UTS IIPWEA assessment procedures provide a relatively simple, yet sophisticated method for testing timber bridges in order to quantify safe load capacity. Over 150 bridges and 350 spans have now been tested using this award- winning innovative method. This experience has highlighted a number of different reasons you might test particular bridges to help you manage these critical links in the road network. For example: 1. a new industry setting up that will require access over existing bridges: what is their capacity?; 2. Railcorp has put load limits on bridges over rail in your area which is severely restricting access -can this be modified for specific vehicle types?; 3. you need to make a funding application for a grant and need to support it by solid evidence; 4. can the strength of a particular bridge be significantly improved by replacement of a limited number of girders -which ones, how much will the load capacity increase? (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E213488.