Stone Arch Bridges

Category: Maintenance

  • Detail of Repair to the Ellis Bridge

    Repairing Broken Stones

    Repairing damaged stones is possible, at least if the damage is not too severe. Mechanical ties, grouting, and even epoxy binders are options for repairs where it is preferable not to actually replace the damaged stones.

  • Partial Collapse of Pudden Bridge

    Maintaining Piers

    Maintaining piers is an important part of keeping a stone arch bridge in service for many years. Piers are vulnerable to the action of the water, and should be given special attention during inspections.

  • Repairing With Concrete: Strengths and Weaknesses

    Concrete has frequently been used over the years to repair masonry structures. Sometimes, the structures thus repaired have held up well over the years, while others have deteriorated rapidly. In this post we investigate what makes the difference.

  • Detail of Repair to the Ellis Bridge

    Patching Damaged Masonry Part 2: Doing the Work

    Patching damaged masonry without dismantling large portions of a sructure is a delicate procedure, but can be done with care. Here are some tips on executing this type of project successfully.

  • Damage to Pudden Bridge

    Patching Damaged Masonry Part 1: The Concepts

    Patching damaged sections of masonry is possible without dismantling large sections of the structure. The key is understanding how the forces in the structure interact to allow a damaged structure to stand.

  • Damage to Clements Bridge

    Retaining Walls: Failure and Repairs

    The retaining walls (spandrels and approaches) in a stone arch bridge are prone to failure thanks to their relatively thin width. However, there are several things that can be done to repair and prevent these failures.

  • Front Circle Crack

    The Key to Successful Repair: Understanding Failures

    When repairing a stone arch bridge it is important to understand what caused the original failure. Merely patching or rebuilding failed components does not necessarily take care of underlying problems, which can in turn cause further maintenance issues.

  • Rock Creek Bridge

    Moisture Management in a Stone Bridge

    Water retention, with causes ranging from incompatible mortars to poor initial design, can cause all manner of damage to a stone arch bridges. Here are some tips on ensuring a stone bridge can drain properly.

  • The Plaque of the Wilson Bridge

    Mortar Maintenance Part 2: In Practice

    Repointing mortar is a regular maintenance item in mortared structures such as stone arch bridges. In this post, we investigate the procedures for successfully repointing.