FUNDAMENTAL STRUCTURAL BEHAVIOR OF "BUILT-UP" STRESS LAMINATED TIMBER BRIDGE DECKS

Following the successful implementation of stress laminated timber bridge deck technology for decks spanning up to 9 m (27 ft), a 3 year research initiative was commenced early in 1995 at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), to undertake fundamental research and development of cellular bridge decks using stress laminated timber technology. This work is funded by the Australian Research Council and industry, and has involved both full scale serviceability and ultimate load testing (up to 12.2 m (36.57 ft)) as well as an examination and analytical investigation into fundamental behavior of cellular and T-beam structural forms constructed from timber elements. Research is currently being undertaken to extend this technology to applications with clear spans of 25 to 30 m (76 to 97 ft). This paper presents the findings of an on-going research at UTS and discusses the implications of it for timber bridges. Research undertaken to date indicates that the technology is structurally and economically viable.