Microstructural and mechanical characterisation of the Simon Bolivar's iron bridge structure, 19th century, Arequipa, Peru

Abstract The microstructure of the main structural elements (Phoenix columns, transversal beams and tie-rods) of the Simón Bolivar iron bridge, located in Arequipa (Peru), was investigated. The bridge was supposedly designed by Gustave Eiffel and opened to the public in 1882. The characterisation revealed that the columns, beams and tie-rods are made of puddled iron (ferritic matrix of equiaxial grains and numerous slag inclusions). The tensile properties were estimated by hardness and nanohardness measurements, and the tensile strength varied between 285 and 390 MPa and the Young's modulus f...