Reconstruction of a 19th Century Masonry Bridge Taking Advantage of Literature-Based Ancient Techniques and Current Technologies

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper deals with the singular rehabilitation process carried out to partially rebuild a masonry bridge over the Deba River (Spain). The central pier of this built heritage suffered, on 5 July 2018, a one-meter sudden settlement provoking a partial collapse of the adjacent vaults, leaving the structure in a precarious condition and exposing it to a global collapse. This research provides a detailed description of the structural system, main load-bearing elements, materials and the anastylosis-based method to rebuild the collapsed vault. All the activities were supported by a combination of ancient construction techniques obtained from old treatises on masonry bridges and actual cutting-edge technologies. This paper not only collects essential know-how on the rehabilitation of masonry bridges, but also raises awareness about the importance of studying construction history for proper restoring the built heritage.