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Reconstruction of Bray Weir on the River Thames
Author(s) -
Higgs A. W.,
Campbell G. G.,
Dunn P. J.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
water and environment journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1747-6593
pISSN - 1747-6585
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-6593.1998.tb00153.x
Subject(s) - weir , cofferdam , demolition , lift (data mining) , engineering , span (engineering) , civil engineering , computer science , cartography , data mining , geography
Bray Weir on the River Thames near Maidenhead was refurbished during the summers of 1993 and 1994. The existing structure, which had become unsound and unsafe to operate, was replaced by nine vertical‐lift (or buck) gates. Construction works within a cofferdam and utilizing floating plant were undertaken in two phases. Following demolition of the existing weir, a network of reinforced concrete beams was supported on new driven piled foundations. Twin leaf gates slide in guides and span between new steel A‐frames, and are lifted by pairs of threaded spindles rotated by actuators operating through gearboxes. Fine flow control is achieved by allowing overtopping of the upper leaves of the gates. Following commissioning, operational difficulties resulting from seal vibration and excessive friction on the spindles necessitated design modifications. This paper outlines a brief history of the site, the design options considered, the contract strategy employed, and includes a description of the construction phase and subsequent postcommissioning aspects.