Research On Application Feasibility And Prospect Of Modern Timber Bridges In China

Timber bridges are one of the earliest bridge at home and aboard. Owing to wood’ssuperior performance of structure and aesthetics, and its special value in ecological benefits,it’s the favorite building materials for bridge engineers. Timber bridges is a highlight of theChinese culture which integrating scientific and creation and artistic. Although traditionaltimber bridges originated in China, but modern timber bridges is concentrated in NorthAmerica, Europe, Japan, etc. In our country, people are familiar and strange to it. Therefore,based on the collecting timber bridges information, this article takes timber bridges as theresearch object, the research contents are as follows:（1）From the history perspective，based on timber bridges’ structure forms, it isdiscussed the evolution and structural characteristics of traditional timber bridges. Resultsshow that due to material’s limitations, spanning capacity and endurance is limited. Eventhough traditional timber bridges had a long history, but it’s lack of the guidance of scientifictheory and support of new materials and technology. It’s difficult to enter the modern bridgesera and gradually replaced by steel and concrete bridges.(2) About the misunderstanding on timber bridges, it is discussed its development andcharacteristics on abroad. Results show that different from traditional timber bridges, due tothe development of technology, such as modern timber products, connection, fire prevention,anti-corrosion, durability and spanning capacity, timber bridges is the ideal bridge model inthe medium and small span bridge, and it is necessary for us to recognize and develop moderntimber bridges.(3) From national policy support, the condition of present situation of forest resources,forestry industry and trade, timberwork, new wood products and related standards. It’sfocused on the application feasibility and fields of timber bridges in China. Results show thattimber bridges can applied to the following fields, such as medium and small span bridges,landscape pedestrian bridges, risk and disaster bridges and west cold region bridges.(4) Take the slab and slab arch bridge as the engineering background, analysis the CLT inmedium and small span bridge and put forward its scope of application. Results show that thenine layers of single span CLT can be to13m, arch bridge of single span to more than20m.itis recommended preferentially the tensile stress of arch bridge and truss bridge, or in theform of steel and wood composite structure in the practical engineering.