Callender-Hamilton bridge
Encyclopedia
The Callender-Hamilton bridge is a modular portable pre-fabricated truss
bridge
. It is primarily designed for use as permanent civil bridging as well as for emergency bridge replacement and for construction by military engineering units. Assembling a Callender-Hamilton bridge takes much longer than the more familiar Bailey bridge
as it is made up of individual lengths of galvanised steel bolted together with galvanised high-strength steel bolts, all of which require torque settings. It is stronger and simpler in design concept than the Bailey bridge.
, and patented by him in 1935. The system is currently fabricated by Painter Brothers
, Hereford
, operating within the Balfour Beatty
Power Networks Division. The former name of Balfour Beatty was British Insulated Callender's Cables
.
Hamilton's bridge concept was inspired by his work between 1928 and 1932 as principal engineer on the 'Hamilton Road' through Iraqi Kurdistan
. He described the building of this road in his book, Road Through Kurdistan: Travels in Northern Iraq, 1937. Hamilton became aware of the need for strong, adaptable bridges made from simple components that could easily be transported and erected in remote locations or on difficult terrain. Hamilton’s patent was later partly breached by the design of the Bailey bridge. He successfully claimed breach of patent to the Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors
.
Trusses
and is centred on a series of gusset plates
that allow the direct attachment of the longitudinal, diagonal, vertical, and cross framing members. Centralised connection points increase the speed of construction and allow identical panels to be fabricated from identical members and then installed on site. An important feature is that all connections are bolted, so removing the need for onsite welding.
The bridge is usually built on falsework
. A reinforced concrete deck
is then superimposed on, and acts compositely with, the fabricated steel truss deck, thereby eliminating the use of scaffolding. A steel orthotropic deck
, steel open grate deck or a timber deck are alternatives to a concrete deck. As with the Bailey bridge, a useful feature of the Callender-Hamilton bridge is that it can be assembled entirely on one side of a gap and with a removable launching nose added then be projected to the other side.
All bridge elements are small enough to be transported by road and site operations can be carried out without skilled labour, special plant or heavy equipment. Because of the modular design, repairs are as structurally efficient as the original construction and at the end of service dismantled bridges can be reduced to initial components for reuse. Salvability is high due to the galvanisation
of each individual component.
Truss
In architecture and structural engineering, a truss is a structure comprising one or more triangular units constructed with straight members whose ends are connected at joints referred to as nodes. External forces and reactions to those forces are considered to act only at the nodes and result in...
bridge
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
. It is primarily designed for use as permanent civil bridging as well as for emergency bridge replacement and for construction by military engineering units. Assembling a Callender-Hamilton bridge takes much longer than the more familiar Bailey bridge
Bailey bridge
The Bailey bridge is a type of portable, pre-fabricated, truss bridge. It was developed by the British during World War II for military use and saw extensive use by both British and the American military engineering units....
as it is made up of individual lengths of galvanised steel bolted together with galvanised high-strength steel bolts, all of which require torque settings. It is stronger and simpler in design concept than the Bailey bridge.
History
The Callender-Hamilton bridge system was designed by the New Zealand civil engineer, A. M. HamiltonA. M. Hamilton
Archibald Milne Hamilton was a New Zealand-born civil engineer, notable for building the Hamilton Road through Kurdistan and designing the Callender-Hamilton bridge system. His name is also associated with the Callendar-Hamilton aeroplane shed of the late 1930s.- Early life, marriage and children...
, and patented by him in 1935. The system is currently fabricated by Painter Brothers
Painter Brothers
Painter Brothers is a major British fabricator of structural steelwork and one of the leading producers of bolted lattice steelwork in the world.-History:Painter Brothers was founded at Hereford, England in 1920 and incorporated in 1929....
, Hereford
Hereford
Hereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, southwest of Worcester, and northwest of Gloucester...
, operating within the Balfour Beatty
Balfour Beatty
Balfour Beatty plc is a British construction, engineering, military housing, rail and investment services company. It is one of the largest construction companies in the UK, and the 15th largest in the world...
Power Networks Division. The former name of Balfour Beatty was British Insulated Callender's Cables
British Insulated Callender's Cables
British Insulated Callender's Cables was a 20th century British cable manufacturer and construction company, now renamed after former subsidiary Balfour Beatty.-History:...
.
Hamilton's bridge concept was inspired by his work between 1928 and 1932 as principal engineer on the 'Hamilton Road' through Iraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan or Kurdistan Region is an autonomous region of Iraq. It borders Iran to the east, Turkey to the north, Syria to the west and the rest of Iraq to the south. The regional capital is Arbil, known in Kurdish as Hewlêr...
. He described the building of this road in his book, Road Through Kurdistan: Travels in Northern Iraq, 1937. Hamilton became aware of the need for strong, adaptable bridges made from simple components that could easily be transported and erected in remote locations or on difficult terrain. Hamilton’s patent was later partly breached by the design of the Bailey bridge. He successfully claimed breach of patent to the Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors
Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors
A Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors is a periodic Royal Commission of the United Kingdom used to hear patent disputes.On October 6, 1919 a Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors was convened to hear 11 claims for the invention of the tank....
.
Design
The Callender-Hamilton bridge system is a prefabricated Panel/Floor Beam/Deck system designed to span bridging lengths ranging from 30 to 150 metres with road widths of one to three or more lanes. The design uses WarrenJames Warren (engineer)
James Warren was a British engineer who, in 1848 , patented the Warren-style truss bridge and girder design. This bridge design is mainly constructed by equilateral triangles which can carry both tension and compression...
Trusses
Truss bridge
A truss bridge is a bridge composed of connected elements which may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads. Truss bridges are one of the oldest types of modern bridges...
and is centred on a series of gusset plates
Gusset plate
Gusset plates are thick sheets of steel that are used to connect beams and girders to columns or to connect truss members . A gusset plate can be fastened to a permanent member either by bolts, rivets or welding or a combination of the three . Gusset plates not only serve as a method of joining...
that allow the direct attachment of the longitudinal, diagonal, vertical, and cross framing members. Centralised connection points increase the speed of construction and allow identical panels to be fabricated from identical members and then installed on site. An important feature is that all connections are bolted, so removing the need for onsite welding.
The bridge is usually built on falsework
Falsework
Falsework consists of temporary structures used in construction to support spanning or arched structures in order to hold the component in place until its construction is sufficiently advanced to support itself...
. A reinforced concrete deck
Deck (bridge)
A bridge deck or road bed is the roadway, or the pedestrian walkway, surface of a bridge. It is not to be confused with any deck of a ship.The deck may be of concrete,wood which in turn may be covered with asphalt concrete or other pavement...
is then superimposed on, and acts compositely with, the fabricated steel truss deck, thereby eliminating the use of scaffolding. A steel orthotropic deck
Orthotropic deck
An orthotropic bridge or orthotropic deck is one whose deck typically comprises a structural steel deck plate stiffened either longitudinally or transversely, or in both directions. This allows the deck both to directly bear vehicular loads and to contribute to the bridge structure's overall...
, steel open grate deck or a timber deck are alternatives to a concrete deck. As with the Bailey bridge, a useful feature of the Callender-Hamilton bridge is that it can be assembled entirely on one side of a gap and with a removable launching nose added then be projected to the other side.
All bridge elements are small enough to be transported by road and site operations can be carried out without skilled labour, special plant or heavy equipment. Because of the modular design, repairs are as structurally efficient as the original construction and at the end of service dismantled bridges can be reduced to initial components for reuse. Salvability is high due to the galvanisation
Galvanization
Galvanization is the process of applying a protective zinc coating to steel or iron, in order to prevent rusting. The term is derived from the name of Italian scientist Luigi Galvani....
of each individual component.
Examples of Callender-Hamilton bridges in use
- Bridge No 194 in KZJ-BPQ Section, South Central Railway, India
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Fourth Bridge
See also
- Bailey BridgeBailey bridgeThe Bailey bridge is a type of portable, pre-fabricated, truss bridge. It was developed by the British during World War II for military use and saw extensive use by both British and the American military engineering units....
- Mabey Logistic Support BridgeMabey Logistic Support BridgeThe Mabey Logistic Support Bridge is a portable pre-fabricated truss bridge, designed for use by military engineering units to upgrade routes for heavier traffic, replace civilian bridges damaged by enemy action or floods etc, replace assault and general support bridges and to provide a long span...
- the modern day Bailey Bridge used by NATO countries. - Medium Girder BridgeMedium Girder BridgeThe Medium Girder Bridge is a lightweight, man portable bridge and can be assembled without help from heavy equipment. In addition, it is also a deck type, two-girder bridging system capable of carrying loads up to and including Main battle tanks .MGB was originally produced by Fairey Engineering...
- a modern functional equivalent of the Bailey bridge. - Military engineerMilitary engineerIn military science, engineering refers to the practice of designing, building, maintaining and dismantling military works, including offensive, defensive and logistical structures, to shape the physical operating environment in war...
- Pontoon bridgePontoon bridgeA pontoon bridge or floating bridge is a bridge that floats on water and in which barge- or boat-like pontoons support the bridge deck and its dynamic loads. While pontoon bridges are usually temporary structures, some are used for long periods of time...
- for another bridge type with mobile military application.