The behaviour under the influence of soil creep pressure of the concrete bridge built at Klosters by the Rhaetian railway company, Switzerland

Abstract

In spring 1938 several cracks appeared in the reinforced concrete viaduct. This deformation was caused by creeping movement in the left side of the valley where one of the two abutments and approach viaducts are situated. After three years' study of the creep process (1939-51) a proposed structure for safeguarding the bridge was developed. The principal part of the reconstruction is a horizontal shore (stiffening beam) between the two abutments, designed to resist the estimated maximum value of creep pressure. It was fitted with a measuring device, which permits the recordings of the gradual increase and the yearly fluctuations of the creep pressure. The purpose of the present paper is to record the results of measurements up to this time (1939-52) so far as creep movements and creep pressure are concerned, as well as the observations and experiments carried out on the rebuilt bridge and its surroundings.