Memorias de investigación
Capítulo de libro:
Designing by 'Expérience': Lecreulx model tests for the design of the abutments of the bridge of Fouchard
Año:2015

Áreas de investigación
  • Ingeniería civil y arquitectura

Datos
Descripción
In the l770s the French engineer J.-R. Perronet introduced a new type of masonry bridge, with very slender piers and extremely surbased segmental arches. irca 20 bridges of these kind were designed by Perronet and his disciples. The ratio height of arch to span was between 119 and 1118. The flat arches would have exerted a great inclined thrust. The piers were equilibrated, but the abutments at both ends of the bridge had to support the thrust. The danger of failure by some kind of fracture of t he buttress on the upper part was evident; in particular then danger of sliding failure. The thrust could be calculated following the La Hire theory, which, though incorrect, was safe, i.e., led to greater, more inclined thrust. However, to know the effect of the thrust in the massive abutments it was necessary to make tests on models. These were carried out in 1774 by F.-M. Lecreulx during the construction of the brid~e of Fouchard. The results demonstrated the enormous danger of a catastrophic fauure by sliding. He then proposed some dispositions to avoid this danger, prolonging the voussoirs of the arch inside the mass of the arch. Fouchard's test must have been influential in the great increase of the size of buttresses from the original designs of the l770s in all the bridges built (most completed after 1780). Eventually, this type of bridge was abandoned, but their short history (about 30 years) demonstrated the audacity, courage and faith in reason and experiment of Perronet and his disciples.
Internacional
Si
DOI
10.1007/978-3-319-13003-3
Edición del Libro
Editorial del Libro
ISBN
978-3-319-13002-6
Serie
Título del Libro
Masonry Structures: Between Mechanics and Architecture
Desde página
21
Hasta página
47

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  • Creador: Departamento: Estructuras y Física de Edificación