Evaluation and Repair of Wrought Iron and - Purdue e-Pubs ...

373. TEST PROCEDURES FOR MECHANICAL AND CONNECTION TESTSTo adequately determine the properties of wrought iron, several different tests arenecessary. For this study, the following tests were completed: micrographs, chemicalanalysis, hardness tests, tensile coupon tests, fatigue tests, charpy impact tests, and eyebarconnection tests of wrought iron members from historical bridges. This chapter describesthe materials utilized, specimen descriptions, procedures followed, and data collected forall of the testing that was completed during this research.3.1 Material Utilized in TestingThe material and structural differences between modern day wrought iron andhistoric wrought iron makes it necessary for only historic wrought iron to be tested andevaluated. A portion of the historic wrought iron used in the testing completed wasdonated by Mr. Jim Barker P.E. from J. A. Barker Engineering Inc. This material wasonce part of a covered bridge built in 1869 by the Seymour Bridge Company. Thebridge, known as the Jackson County Bell Ford Covered Bridge, partially collapsedduring a storm in February of 1999. Figure 3.1 shows a photograph of the collapsedportion of this bridge. To rebuild the bridge, members were recovered and a plan forreconstruction of the bridge was developed. J.A. Barker Engineering Inc. was hired toreconstruct and rehabilitate the Bell Ford Covered bridge. In the first phases of thereconstruction process, the wrought iron from this bridge was recovered and stored forlater refurbishing. During this reconstruction process, Mr. Barker decided to donate aportion of this historic wrought iron to this research project.