Published Resources Details
Journal Article
- Title
- Timber Bridges of New South Wales
- In
- Transactions of The Institution of Engineers, Australia: Multi-Disciplinary Engineering
- Imprint
- vol. GE9, no. 2, 1985, pp. 92-101
- ISBN/ISSN
- 0724-0444
- Subject
- History of Applied Sciences Engineering
- Description
Paper: G1169
- Abstract
In the colonial days of New South Wales, timber was the principal material for bridges. The expanding road and rail systems required thousands of bridges, and timber beam structure proved adequate for most sites. However, for longer spans, the laminated arch and then the truss were the solutions, because masonry arches and iron bridges were too expensive. The use of timber bridges reached a peak in the 1890s, and then declined rapidly until superseded by steel and reinforced concrete at the end of World War I. The paper traces the development of timber bridge engineering in New South Wales including the influence of such non- technical factors as politics, economics and social matters.
- Source
- Carlson 1985