Masonry Arch Bridge Repair Strategies
Problems with masonry arch bridges may include and result from: Movement in the spandrel wall; seperation of arch rings; cracking in the arch barrel; delaminated masonry; spreading barrels and soffits; cracked abutments and wing walls; and spalling brickwork.
Helifix has developed a variety of innovative tying, bonding and repair techniques which use its products in appropriate combinations to provide unobtrusive solutions for all such situations where masonry has cracked or failed.
These nondisruptive and concealed repair strategies offer savings in both time and money and sympathetically restore full structural integrity.
A selection of masonry arch bridge repair techniques is highlighted below.
The stabilisation and installation techniques employed minimise the disruption to road and rail services and avoid the need for expensive re-building by combining with and conserving the existing fabric.
This makes them ideal for historic and listed structures which are left repaired but visibly unimpaired with no unsightly external plates or restraints.
Each repair project will require its own specific repair strategy, based on the type and severity of the particular structural problems. This mormally involves the Helibeam System being used in combination with other specific application products to produce a comprehensive repair. These principally include HeliBar reinforcing rods, CemTies, to secure separated brick rings and stabilise solid walls, and DryFix for rapid masonry pinning and tying.
1. Soffit - Barrel Arch Beaming and Pinning (Soffit Plan)
Barrel arch beaming and pinning
HeliBars are installed to create masonry beams. CemTies or DryFix are installed to pin loose bricks.
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2. Pier - Crack Stitching
Crack stitching using CemTies
CemTies are installed simultaneously with HeliBond grout into holes drilled across the cracked pier.
References
3. Abutment - Crack Stitching and Pinning of Coping Stones
Crack stitching and pinning of coping stones
HeliBars are installed to create beams and stitch cracks. CemTies or DryFix are installed to pin loose stones.
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4. Beaming and Pinning
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5. Pier - Crack Stitching
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6. Spandrel Pinning
Spandrel pinning
CemTies are installed simultaneously with HeliBond grout into holes drilled, to the required depth, across the crack and deep into the arch brickwork.
References
7. Replacement and Pinning of Spalled Bricks (Elevation)
8. Parapet wall stabilisation
Parapet wall stabilisation
HeliBars are installed to create beams and stitch cracks. CemTies are installed simultaneously with HeliBond grout into holes drilled vertically into the parapet walls.
References
9. Ring Separation - Barrel Arch Pinning
Pinning separated rings
CemTies are installed simultaneously with HeliBond grout into holes drilled vertically into the separated brick rings.