Papers by Ian Berger
Presented at the ninth International Conference on Bridge Maintenance, Safety and Management, hel... more Presented at the ninth International Conference on Bridge Maintenance, Safety and Management, held in Melbourne, Australia, 9-13 July 2018
This paper examines the significant role played by opening bridges on the Murray-Darling River sy... more This paper examines the significant role played by opening bridges on the Murray-Darling River system for the passage of river steamers in NSW in the period 1878 to 1925. A number of forms of opening bridges were used during this period, including bascule, swing and vertical lift spans. The latter type was the most common, but within that type there was also developmental variation of design in approach spans and lifting mechanisms. There were three bascule spans bridges built on tributaries of the Murray River (at Darlington Point and Carrathool over the Murrumbidgee River and at Kyalite over the Wakool River); one swing span bridge on the Murrumbidgee River at Hay; and some 11 lift span bridges on the Murray, Darling and Murrumbidgee Rivers, totalling15 opening bridges during the subject period. In all over 50 opening bridges were built by road authorities in NSW to span navigable coastal and inland rivers through to the mid-1960s. Many of these replaced former pontoon bridges, pu...
Synopsis The Howe truss was patented in USA initially in 1840 and again in 1842 and went on to be... more Synopsis The Howe truss was patented in USA initially in 1840 and again in 1842 and went on to become one of the primary timber truss designs used in North America. The adaptation of the Howe truss in NSW into the two distinct forms known as the " Allan " and " Dare " trusses is well documented, though its usage elsewhere in Australia is largely ignored. This paper will briefly describe the extent of this usage and suggest the manner in which some of the bridge engineering knowledge required for their construction was transmitted.
Synopsis Between 1871 and 1893, 27 wrought iron lattice truss road bridges were built in NSW. Of ... more Synopsis Between 1871 and 1893, 27 wrought iron lattice truss road bridges were built in NSW. Of these, 18 were built under the guidance of the noted bridge designer John A. McDonald and the 16 remaining are managed by the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA). This paper provides a brief history of their development and the manner in which they have been conserved and upgraded.
Conference Presentations by Ian Berger
This paper investigates the strong European influence on timber bridge design and construction in... more This paper investigates the strong European influence on timber bridge design and construction in the early Australian colonies. Early bridge building, from circa 1826, comprised very rudimentary round timber beam bridges and with some beautiful masonry arch bridges. This initial period was followed in the mid-19 th century by a much more innovative period of timber arch bridges that were strongly influenced by European and English designs. The period continued until c. 1870 when improvements were made to design detailing and construction techniques of more conventional timber truss bridge designs, based initially on stocky English designs and later on more slender US designs derived from Howe trusses. Whilst only a relatively small number of timber arch bridges were built in the fledgling colonies, it was nevertheless a significant early period of bridge evolution. This review found that, whilst laminated timber arch bridges were an expedient and cost-effective in the short term, they presented maintenance and durability problems in the longer term progressively replaced by more effectively designed large span timber truss, metal or later concrete bridges. Considerable knowledge and artisan skills were acquired during this period in building such large structures, using limited resources other than natural materials and ingenuity. Nevertheless these bridges very admirably fulfilled their intended purpose until traffic loading and volume increased and alternative material costs decreased sufficiently to warrant eventual replacement.
NSW Roads and Maritime Services manage 26 movable span bridges of which 11 are still operational.... more NSW Roads and Maritime Services manage 26 movable span bridges of which 11 are still operational. These bridges were the subject of a recently completed study undertaken jointly by RMS and GHD Newcastle which focused on the components of each bridge for the purposes of detailed heritage assessment, conservation and operational enhancement. The majority of bridges within the study can be broadly categorized as the bascule or vertical lift type. Detailed assessment has led to the recognition of particular subtypes within these broader groupings. This paper will explore the international origins of movable span bridges and detail the defining characteristics of these subtypes and suggest a new naming convention for each.
Teaching Documents by Ian Berger
(Swan Hill Type, built 1928) 5.9.1 Description of the Bridge The Bridge over the Murray River at ... more (Swan Hill Type, built 1928) 5.9.1 Description of the Bridge The Bridge over the Murray River at Curlwaa named Abbotsford consists of a mild steel vertical lifting span with length 60 ft. three mild steel riveted trusses with lengths ranging from 120 to 123 ft. and nine mild steel I-beam spans 24 ft. long. The supports of the lift span and trusses comprise of piers made from pairs of circular reinforced concrete columns connected by a reinforced concrete diaphragm. The bridge has a clearance over normal water level of 23 ft. with the lift span closed and 52 ft. with the lift span open. The upper framework of the lifting span consists of four steel lattice towers that are restrained at the top by longitudinal Warren type girders and transverse lattice girders. The bridge currently carries a single lane of road controlled by traffic lights. Figure 5.103 View of Abbotsford Bridge from the NSW side.
The Movable Span Bridge Study has been completed by GHD in conjunction with the Environment Branc... more The Movable Span Bridge Study has been completed by GHD in conjunction with the Environment Branch of the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS). The study will play a vital role in assisting RMS in assessing and managing their heritage movable span bridges into the future.
Books by Ian Berger
Timber Truss Bridges Book, 2019
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Papers by Ian Berger
Conference Presentations by Ian Berger
Teaching Documents by Ian Berger
Books by Ian Berger