History of Wood Block Pavements For Pedestrian Transportation
This article is about highway and transport engineering, this time we talk about History of Wood Block Pavements
Wood block pavements were introduced in many European cities after 1850 as a less noisy alternative to stone setts. They were also widely used in Australia. The blocks were similar in size to stone setts, and again a great deal of research was carried out to determine the most suitable timbers and their pretreatments. Wear was greater than with stone setts, but the much lower cost meant that this form of paving was economical. The blocks were generally laid on a lime or cement mortar bed. The use of wood blocks in London continued until the 1950s. In later years their life was extended by tar spraying and chipping. This waterproofed the pavement and ensured an adequate skid resistance. In London during severe rainstorms wood block pavements sometimes floated if proper attention had not been given to drainage beneath the blocks.
Wood block paving does not appear to have been used extensively in the United States. However, an experimental length of 100 yards was laid in New York’s Broadway in 1835, and at much the same time a similar length was laid in Philadelphia. For this work hexagonal blocks 6 in across and 8 in deep were used, and they were laid on lime-concrete bed. At both sites the life was only about 2 years. The process reappeared some 30 years later as the Nicolson improved wood pavements. The blocks were than rectangular of the size used in London, but they were laid on what was described as an elastic foundation. This consisted of two layers of soft timber each 1 inch in thickness impregnated with hot tar. The blocks were laid in transverse rows separated by narrow wooden fillets. A hot tar/sand mixture was used to fill the joints. An area of 6000 square yards was laid under heavy traffic in King William Street, London. After 2 years severe mud pumping occurred, leading to vertical deflections under traffic in excess of 1 in. the pavements was removed after 3 years.
(source : design and performance of road pavements by david croney, paul croney)
Title Post: History of Wood Block Pavements For Pedestrian Transportation
Rating: 100% based on 99998 ratings. 5 user reviews.
Author: aditya
Rating: 100% based on 99998 ratings. 5 user reviews.
Author: aditya
.jpg)
0 comments
Post a Comment