Transport Research Laboratory Test

Thursday June 21, 2001

A bridge with a known loading strength of 20 tonnes was taken to a 45 tonne load. The failure was due to the crushing of the brickwork (masonry) as predicted by analyses. It should be noted that this loading was the maximum the brickwork could sustain.

Figure 1: The assembled audience

Figure 2: Carl Brookes of Gifford & Partners explaining the procedures

Figure 3: The Bridge

Figure 4: The Failure mechanism

Figure 5: The Failure mechanism