Rehabilitation of timber bridges in Ghana with case studies of the Kaase Modular Timber Bridge. (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lumor, R.K.; Ankrah, J.S.; Bawa, S.; Dadzie, E.A.; Osei, O.
• Is Part Of: Engineering failure analysis. Volume 82(2017)
• Page Start: 514
• Page End: 524
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Timber Bridge -- Pile -- Pile cap -- Girder -- Rehabilitation; System failures (Engineering) -- Periodicals; Fracture mechanics -- Periodicals; Reliability (Engineering) -- Periodicals; Pannes -- Périodiques; Rupture, Mécanique de la -- Périodiques; Fiabilité -- Périodiques; Fracture mechanics; Reliability (Engineering); System failures (Engineering); Periodicals; Electronic journals; 620.112
• DOI: 10.1016/j.engfailanal.2017.04.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1350-6307

Abstract

Abstract: Construction of bridges in Ghana has largely been done in reinforced concrete and steel to a lesser extent. These materials and construction technology employed are very expensive and a severe drain on the foreign exchange resources of the country. However, timber is readily available and could be utilised for bridge construction in Ghana. In order to demonstrate the viability of local timber for bridge construction, a prototype timber bridge designed to withstand American AASHTO-HS-20-44 and Interstate Highway loads was constructed over river Subin at Kaase, in Kumasi. The Kaase Timber Bridge was built in 1990 and has since been in exploitation. Inspection of the bridge in 2015 showed extensive deterioration of the timber pile caps, the timber piles, the timber decking, the timber abutment and wing walls due to environmental factors. However, the built-up timber girders were found to be in very good condition except minor deterioration at the ends of the girders in contact with the soil. The extent of deterioration necessitated rehabilitation of the bridge. This paper describes the processes undertaken to rehabilitate the bridge after years of use. The Kaase Timber Bridge has demonstrated the applicability of local wood species in bridge construction. The initiative can be extended to low traffic volume roads in the rural setting to improve connectivity. Highlights: The Kaase timber bridge constructed from local timber species The piles, pile caps and timber decking have been rehabilitated Segmented blocks have been used as the retaining wall for the bridge in place of timber planks The timber piles, diagonal braces, and pile caps have been protected from the severe environmental conditions using fibreglass The Kaase Timber Bridge has demonstrated the applicability of local wood species in bridge construction