History and technology of Lemuel Chenoweth's covered bridges
Name
890135883-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
5.52 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
3f012e95c74b5fd9f29235444b267f1d
Author(s)
Gleave, Daniel Richard
Advisor(s)
John A. Ochsendorf.
Date Issued
2014
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
Lemuel Chenoweth was a carpenter and bridge builder who played a key role in the development of the infrastructure of antebellum Virginia. Theodore Burr and Lewis Wernwag are among the designers who influenced the structure and construction of his bridges, two of which are currently standing in West Virginia. The timber covered bridge at Beverly is one of Chenoweth's key creations that have been lost, which was at the time located on a key turnpike running through the county seat. The first goal of the following study is to establish the geometry of the Beverly Bridge. To do this, historical photographs of the construction and the finished bridge were studied. Salvaged timbers from the bridge were observed to establish the cross-sectional dimensions and species of the wood. Finally, surveys of Chenoweth's existing bridges were performed to determine the probable joinery and truss dimensions. A second goal is to perform a simplified and finite element analysis of the bridge in order to determine its performance under modern vehicle loading. A third goal is to determine the feasibility of reconstruction of the bridge. The Beverly Bridge is compared to other existing timber covered bridges of a similar span and type in order to prove that similar bridges can withstand modern loads adequately. Modifications that may be made to the bridge are then discussed, covering both structural and nonstructural considerations. Finally, the cost of reconstructing the bridge today is assessed.
Description
Thesis: M. Eng., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2014.
This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.
Cataloged from student-submitted PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 100-102).
Subjects
Civil and Environmental Engineering.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Terms of Use
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