EMMERY, H.C. Pont d'Ivry en bois, sur piles en pierre, traversant la Seine près du confluent de la Marne. Détails pratiques sur ce pont. Projet, exécution, écritures, concession à terme. Paris, Carilian-Goery 1832
4to text vol, small folio atlas. (viii) + 304pp ; title and 18 double-page engraved plates. Text vol in orig. wrappers, atlas in uniform orig. boards with printed label on upper cover. Spines of both vols rather worn. Opened in 1820 Emmery's Ivry Bridge over the Seine at Charenton was of laminated timber, a technique introduced by Wiebeking in Germany in the first decade of the 19th century and developed by Emy in France during the 1820s. The Ivry Bridge had five arches with a central span of 23.75m, two flanking spans of 22.5m and two shore spans of 21.25m and was one of the largest such structures every built. However, it owed more to Wiebeking, who used thick timbers, than to Emy, who made up his arches of very thin planks. Emmery gives a detailed account of the construction including the all-important method of bending the timbers under steam and the assembling and bolting together of the laminates together with the lifting of the pre-fabricated arches into place, the fitting of the decking which was partially covered with metal plates to prevent wear etc. Although there were earlier laminated timber bridges in France, notably that of Navier at Choisy, this is by far the most comprehensive description of the building and erection of such a structure and the labour involved in its fabrication.
£650
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