Investigating snipe depth in girders and corbels in timber bridges

Abstract

There are over 300 timber bridges on Queensland state controlled roads which require constant maintenance as the timber components deteriorate over time. Inspections are done at three levels depending on the necessity. A significant number of the defects are due to poor practices such as excessive sniping of girders and corbels, which contribute to many bridges being rated in poor condition. This causes costs to increase due to increased inspection frequencies and rectification works. The aim of this research is to critically investigate the effect of sniping on the overall structural performance of individual bridge elements. Based on inspection reports for timber bridges, it is understood ..