Self-skid concrete and steel bridge requiring no heavy maintenance

Abstract

A bridge (2) comprising a support slab (20) having an upper face arranged to support a traffic lane (1) and a lower face opposite the upper face, said bridge (2) further comprising a plurality of reinforcing members (21) secured at least to the lower face of the support slab (20) so as to improve the mechanical strength thereof, said support slab (20) being at least partially made of concrete and the plurality of reinforcing members (21) being at least partially made of self-patenting steel, said support slab (20) at least partly covering said reinforcing members (21). Abstract figure: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Self-sliding concrete and steel bridge requiring no heavy maintenance Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of bridges, particularly railway bridges.

[0002] A railway track comprises, in a known manner, two parallel longitudinal rails fixed to a plurality of sleepers arranged perpendicular to the rails. The sleepers themselves rest on a rigid support or on ballast supporting the railway track.

[0003] In order to ensure the continuity of the railway track over obstacles, such as, for example, gaps, roads, railways or waterways, it is known to provide, at these locations, railway bridges to support the track. Such bridges can be made of metal and / or concrete.

[0004] A railway bridge most often comprises, in a known manner, a concrete support slab configured to support a portion of railway track. The support slab is configured to receive and support the plurality of sleepers or ballast on which the plurality of sleepers rests. The assembly comprising the support slab, the portion of railway track, the plurality of sleepers and / or ballast forms the deck of the railway bridge.

[0005] Railway bridges are generally designed with significant dimensions, in particular the thickness of the slab which determines their capacity to resist the passage of a vehicle such as a train. The height available around the track to design the slab is an essential criterion for the choice of the type of bridge which will be used.

[0006] Over time, railway bridges require significant maintenance. In particular, the paintwork deteriorates and requires major regular refreshing work. In addition, water can stagnate on the concrete supporting the ballast or directly on the sleepers, which can cause deterioration of the concrete. To remedy this waterproofing problem, it is necessary to remove all the track on the bridge, re-waterproof it and reinstall the track on the bridge. Such maintenance is time-consuming, expensive, restrictive and stops the traffic that is carried out on the track throughout the maintenance.

[0007] Furthermore, it is known that the deck of the railway bridge is placed on support devices generally containing rubber or an elastomer so as to support and absorb the forces transmitted by the deck.

[0008] However, these support devices wear out over time and need to be maintained and replaced when they show excessive wear. Replacing the Bearings require lifting the deck, replacing worn bearings with new ones and reinstalling the deck. Such maintenance is time-consuming, expensive, restrictive and stops traffic on the track for the duration of the maintenance.

[0009] The invention thus aims to eliminate at least some of these drawbacks, in particular to reduce heavy maintenance operations on bridges. PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The invention relates to a bridge comprising a support slab. The support slab comprises an upper face arranged to support a traffic lane and a lower face opposite the upper face. Said bridge further comprises a plurality of reinforcing members secured at least to the lower face of the slab so as to improve its mechanical strength. Said slab is at least partially made of concrete and the plurality of reinforcing members is at least partially made of self-patenting steel. Said slab at least partially encases said reinforcing members.

[0011] The self-weathering steel advantageously eliminates the need for painting the reinforcing members which are subject to external conditions, which reduces maintenance. The at least partially concrete support slab at least partially coating the at least partially self-weathering steel reinforcing members makes it possible to improve the mechanical strength of the bridge. In particular, the cooperation of the concrete and the self-weathering steel makes it possible to increase the adhesion between the support slab and the reinforcing member, which reinforces the structure of the bridge.

[0012] Advantageously, the support slab comprises a proportion of ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete.

[0013] Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) has a high binder content which leads to the absence of capillary porosity in the support slab. Thus, UHPC prevents water infiltration into the support slab and its stagnation. It thus increases the lifespan of the bridge's waterproofing, at least twice as long compared to a conventional bridge. Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) includes internal reinforcements which advantageously allow mechanical forces to be transmitted to the reinforcement members at least partially made of self-patenting steel. This improves the transfer of mechanical forces between the reinforcement members and the internal reinforcements.

[0014] Advantageously, the support slab comprises a slab body and a sealing layer, the sealing layer covering the slab body and being interposed between the latter and said traffic lane, said sealing layer forming the proportion of ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete of the support slab.

[0015] The ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete sealing layer helps protect the concrete slab body, in particular from water ingress and stagnation. It thus increases the lifespan of the bridge's waterproofing, at least twice as long compared to a conventional bridge. Also, the waterproofing layer eliminates the work involved in maintaining and replacing the bridge waterproofing, namely removing the entire track on the bridge, redoing the waterproofing and reinstalling the track on the bridge.

[0016] Advantageously, the sealing layer has a thickness of between 3 cm and 5 cm.

[0017] According to one variant, the support slab is made entirely of ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete.

[0018] Advantageously, the bridge further comprises at least one support member for said bridge, said plurality of reinforcing members being embedded at least partially in said support member.

[0019] Advantageously, said plurality of reinforcing members is entirely embedded in said support member.

[0020] The at least partial embedding of the plurality of reinforcing members in the support member makes it possible to dispense with support devices made at least partially of rubber and therefore with their upkeep and maintenance. In particular, the replacement of said support devices requires lifting the deck to replace the support device to be changed with a new one, which causes traffic to stop on the bridge.

[0021] According to a first embodiment, each reinforcement member comprises at least two support beams made of self-patinating steel, said support beams each being coated at least in part by the support slab.

[0022] According to a second embodiment, each reinforcement member comprises at least two support beams and a plurality of self-skid steel attachment systems, the plurality of attachment systems projecting from each support beam, said attachment systems being coated by the support slab.

[0023] Advantageously, the bridge further comprises at least one reinforcing plate extending between the support beams and the lower face of the support slab, the plurality of attachment systems projecting from said reinforcing plate.

[0024] Advantageously, the plurality of attachment systems is made from the material of the reinforcement plate.

[0025] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear during the description which follows, given with reference to the appended figures given as non-limiting examples and in which identical references are given to similar objects. PRESENTATION OF THE FIGURES

[0026] The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given by way of example, and referring to the following figures, given by way of non-limiting examples, in which identical references are given to similar objects.

[0027] [Fig. 1] is a front and sectional view of a bridge according to a first embodiment of the invention, comprising a support slab secured to a plurality of reinforcing members, said plurality of reinforcing members being directly embedded in a support member;

[0028] [Fig. 2] is an exploded perspective view of a variant of the bridge of [Fig. 1], in which the plurality of reinforcing members is connected to support devices, themselves connected to the support member;

[0029] [Fig. 3] is an exploded perspective view of a variant of the bridge of [Fig. 1], in which the plurality of reinforcing members is fully embedded in the bearing member;

[0030] [Fig.4] is a front and sectional view of a bridge according to a second embodiment of the invention, in which the reinforcing member comprises a plurality of support beams partially coated by the support slab, the plurality of reinforcing members being connected to support devices, themselves connected to the support member;

[0031] [Fig.5] is a view similar to [Fig.4], in which the plurality of support beams are fully enclosed by the support slab;

[0032] [Fig.6] is an exploded perspective view of the bridge of [Fig.5]; and

[0033] [Fig.7] is an exploded perspective view of a variant of the bridge of [Fig.4], wherein the plurality of reinforcing members are fully embedded in the support member.

[0034] It should be noted that the figures set out the invention in detail to implement the invention, said figures can of course be used to better define the invention where appropriate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] The invention relates to a bridge 2, in particular a railway bridge, allowing the support of a traffic lane 1, in particular a railway track, allowing the circulation of vehicles, in particular railway vehicles.

[0036] It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the railway field but applies to any type of bridge intended to receive a traffic lane, road or pedestrian for example.

[0037] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the traffic lane 1 comprises two parallel longitudinal rails 3 fixed on a plurality of sleepers 4 arranged perpendicularly- directly to rails 3.

[0038] The sleepers 4 rest on ballast (not shown) which makes it possible to support and stabilize the traffic lane 1. Of course, the sleepers 4 can rest directly on the bridge 2, as illustrated in the figures.

[0039] The bridge 2 comprises a support slab 20.

[0040] The support slab 20 comprises an upper face and a lower face. The upper face is arranged to support a portion of the traffic lane 1 and the lower face is opposite the upper face. For example, the support slab 20 may have a length of 15m, a width of 3.5m and a thickness of 15cm.

[0041] According to the invention, the support slab 20 is at least partially made of concrete.

[0042] Thus, the support slab 20 may have a proportion of concrete, and in particular a proportion of ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPC). A UHPC has, in a known manner, a resistance ranging from 130 to 250 MPa in compression and from 20 to 50 MPa in flexural tension. In addition, UHPC has a high binder content which leads to the absence of capillary porosity.

[0043] As illustrated in Figures 1 to 7, the support slab 20 may comprise a slab body 200 and a sealing layer 201.

[0044] The sealing layer 201 covers the slab body 200 and is interposed between said slab body 200 and the traffic lane 1. The sealing layer 201 is made of ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete and forms the proportion of ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete of the support slab 20.

[0045] The sealing layer 201 has a thickness of between 3 cm and 5 cm.

[0046] Such a thickness makes it possible to ensure good implementation of the sealing layer 201 while limiting the risks of cracking and the costs, in particular the costs linked to the manufacture of said sealing layer 201.

[0047] The waterproofing layer 201 made of ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete makes it possible to protect the slab body 200, for example made of concrete, in particular from water ingress and stagnation. The waterproofing layer 201 thus makes it possible to increase the lifespan of the waterproofing of the bridge 2, at least twice as long compared to a conventional bridge.

[0048] The sealing layer 201 makes it possible to avoid the work generated by the maintenance and replacement of the sealing of the bridges, namely removing the entire track present on the bridge, redoing the sealing and reinstalling the track on the bridge.

[0049] Alternatively, the support slab 20 may be made entirely of concrete, in particular, of ultra-high performance concrete.

[0050] The support slab 20 made of ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete makes it possible to prevent water infiltration into the support slab 20 and its stagnation. The UHPFRC thus makes it possible to increase the service life of the waterproofing of the bridge 2, at least twice as long compared to a classic bridge.

[0051] The BFUP support slab 20 makes it possible to avoid the work involved in maintaining and replacing the waterproofing of bridges, namely removing all the track present on the bridge, redoing the waterproofing and reinstalling the track on the bridge.

[0052] It goes without saying that the support slab 20 could be made of a concrete mixture comprising, for example, BFUP and ordinary concrete.

[0053] The bridge 2 further comprises a plurality of reinforcing members 21.

[0054] The plurality of reinforcing members 21 is at least partially made of self-patenting steel.

[0055] In particular, the plurality of reinforcing members 21 may have a proportion of self-patinating steel, or be entirely made of self-patinating steel. The self-patinating steel is for example presented under the commercial reference CORTEN.

[0056] The self-patinating steel of the plurality of reinforcing members 21 has the advantage of not requiring the application to the reinforcing members 21 of a corrosion protection system, such as paint.

[0057] The self-patinating steel makes it possible to avoid the need for maintenance of the paint or other corrosion protection system to be applied to the reinforcement members 21.

[0058] In addition, each reinforcing member 21 comprises at least two support beams 23. Each support beam 23 may be a so-called PRS beam, i.e. a Welded Reconstituted Beam, or a so-called HEB or HEA laminated beam, i.e. an H or I beam with wide flanges, IPN, i.e. an I beam with a normal profile, or a so-called IPE beam, i.e. an I beam with a European profile, for example.

[0059] In other words, each support beam 23 comprises a first portion extending between the support on which the bridge 2 rests and the support slab 20, a second portion extending orthogonally to the first portion, between the latter and the support slab 20 and a third portion extending orthogonally to the first portion, between the latter and the support on which the bridge 2 rests.

[0060] As illustrated in Figures 1 to 7, the support slab 20 at least partially covers the reinforcing members 21, so as to improve their mechanical resistance.

[0061] According to a first embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the plurality of reinforcing members 21 is secured to the lower face of the support slab 20 so as to improve its mechanical strength.

[0062] In particular, each reinforcing member 21 comprises at least two support beams 23. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 for example, the reinforcing member 21 comprises four support beams 23, juxtaposed to each other, along the width of the support slab 20.

[0063] In addition, the reinforcing member 21 comprises a plurality of attachment systems 24. These hanging systems 24 protrude from the second portion of each support beam 23, towards the support slab 20 and are coated by the latter.

[0064] The 24 hanging systems are made of self-patenting steel.

[0065] Thus, the attachment systems 24 are embedded in the support slab 20 at least partially made of concrete. The contact between the concrete of the support slab 20 and the self-patinating steel of the attachment systems 24 makes it possible to increase the adhesion between the support slab 20 and the reinforcing member 21 or the reinforcing members 21. Better adhesion makes it possible to further improve the mechanical strength of the slab and to reinforce the structure of the bridge 2.

[0066] As illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the bridge 2 may further comprise at least one reinforcing plate 25. This reinforcing plate 25 extends between the support beams 23 and the lower face of the support slab 20. In particular, the reinforcing plate 25 extends between the second portion of each of the support beams 23 and the lower face of the support slab 20. In this case, the plurality of attachment systems 24 protrude from the reinforcing plate 25, rather than from the second portion of the support beams 23.

[0067] The reinforcing plate 25 may for example be made of steel, in particular self-patenting steel.

[0068] The attachment systems 24 can be fixed to the reinforcement plate 25 or made of the same material as the reinforcement plate 25.

[0069] Just like the hanging systems 24, the reinforcement plate 25 can be embedded in the support slab 20.

[0070] Thus, the reinforcing members 21 constitute a tie rod making it possible to increase the resistance capacity of the structure of the bridge 2, with respect to bending forces. The second portion of the support beams 23, the reinforcing plate 25 and / or the attachment systems 24 have a mechanical role of taking up the majority of the tensile forces due to the bending of the support slab 20 and make it possible to better control the fatigue behavior of the structure due to variable stresses on the traffic lane 1 to give it high durability.

[0071] According to a second embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 to 7, the plurality of reinforcing members 21 is secured to the support slab 20 so as to improve its mechanical resistance.

[0072] In particular, and as shown in [Fig.4], the plurality of reinforcing members 21 is partially coated by the support slab 20. Here, each support beam 23 and more particularly the second portion and a part of the first portion of each support beam 23 is coated in the support slab 20.

[0073] Each reinforcing member 21 comprises at least two support beams 23. As illustrated in [Fig.4], the reinforcing member 21 comprises eighteen support beams 23, juxtaposed with each other, according to the width of the support slab 20.

[0074] Each of the support beams 23 is made of self-patenting steel.

[0075] Thus, the support beams 23 are partially embedded in the support slab 20 at least partially made of concrete. The contact between the concrete of the support slab 20 and the self-patinating steel of the support beams 23 makes it possible to increase the adhesion between the support slab 20 and the reinforcing member 21 or the reinforcing members 21. Better adhesion makes it possible to further improve the mechanical strength of the slab and to reinforce the structure of the bridge 2.

[0076] According to a variant shown in [Fig.5], the plurality of reinforcing members 21 is entirely coated by the support slab 20. Here, each support beam 23 is entirely coated in the support slab 20.

[0077] The support beams 23 are here also juxtaposed with each other, according to the width of the support slab 20 and are made of self-patinating steel.

[0078] The total embedding of the support beams 23 in the support slab 20 makes it possible to increase the contact surface between the concrete of the support slab 20 and the self-patinating steel of the support beams 23, and therefore makes it possible to further increase the adhesion between the support slab 20 and the reinforcing member 21 or the reinforcing members 21. Better adhesion makes it possible to further improve the mechanical strength of the slab and to reinforce the structure of the bridge 2.

[0079] The reinforcing members 21 of this second embodiment constitute, just like those of the first embodiment, a tie rod making it possible to increase the resistance capacity of the structure of the bridge 2, with respect to bending forces. The support beams 23 have a mechanical role of taking up the majority of the tensile forces due to the bending of the support slab 20 and make it possible to better control the fatigue behavior of the structure due to variable stresses on the traffic lane 1 to give it high durability.

[0080] The bridge 2 according to the invention further comprises at least one support member 22 for the bridge 2 on its support.

[0081] The support member 22 is for example made of reinforced concrete.

[0082] As illustrated in Figures 2 and 4 to 6, the bridge 2 may further comprise support devices 5, interposed between the plurality of reinforcement members 21 and the support member 22.

[0083] The support devices 5 comprise rubber or any other elastomer and make it possible to absorb the forces transmitted by the plurality of reinforcing members 21, towards the support member 22.

[0084] According to a variant illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 7, the plurality of reinforcing members 21 is embedded at least partially in the support member 22. This variant is the preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0085] In other words, the plurality of reinforcing members 21 is partly embedded in the support member 22, or entirely embedded in the support member 22.

[0086] According to the first embodiment of the invention and with reference to [Fig.l], the third portion of each support beam 23 is embedded at least partially and connected in the support member 22 by plugging.

[0087] With reference to [Fig. 3], each support beam 23 is entirely embedded in the support member 22, only the attachment systems 24 are not coated by said support member 22.

[0088] According to the second embodiment of the invention and with reference to [Fig.7], each support beam 23 is entirely embedded in the support member 22. In addition, the connection between the support slab 20 and the support beams 23 is effected by means of an anchoring system comprising a plurality of reinforcements, in particular made of steel, which extend from the support slab 20 and in the direction of said support beams 23. Said reinforcements pass through the support beams 23 through holes made in said support beams 23.

[0089] The embedding of the plurality of reinforcement members 21 in the support member 22 makes it possible to dispense with the support devices 5 and therefore with their upkeep and maintenance. In particular, the replacement of the support devices 5 requires lifting the deck to replace the support device to be changed with a new one, which causes traffic to stop on the bridge 2.

[0090] Thus, the bridge 2 according to the invention requires few maintenance operations, in particular concerning the sealing of the support slab 20, the corrosion of the reinforcement members 21 and the use of the support devices 5, while making it possible to improve the mechanical resistance of the support slab 20 and to reinforce the structure of the bridge 2.

Claims

Claims

1. Bridge (2) comprising a support slab (20) having an upper face arranged to support a traffic lane (1) and a lower face opposite the upper face, said bridge (2) further comprising a plurality of reinforcing members (21) secured at least to the lower face of the support slab (20) so as to improve its mechanical strength, said support slab (20) being at least partially made of concrete and the plurality of reinforcing members (21) being at least partially made of self-patenting steel, said support slab (20) at least partly covering said reinforcing members (21).

2. A bridge (2) according to claim 1, wherein the support slab (20) comprises a proportion of ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete.

3. A bridge (2) according to claim 2, wherein the support slab (20) comprises a slab body (200) and a sealing layer (201), the sealing layer (201) covering the slab body (200) and being interposed between the latter and said traffic lane (1), said sealing layer (201) forming the ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete proportion of the support slab (20).

4. Bridge (2) according to claim 3, wherein the sealing layer (201) has a thickness of between 3 cm and 5 cm.

5. Bridge (2) according to any one of claims 1 and / or 2, wherein the support slab (20) is made entirely of ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete.

6. Bridge (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising at least one support member (22) of said bridge (2), said plurality of reinforcing members (21) being embedded at least partially in said support member (22).

7. A bridge (2) according to claim 6, wherein said plurality of reinforcing members (21) is fully embedded in said bearing member (22).

8. Bridge (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which each reinforcing member (21) comprises at least two support beams (23) made of self-patinating steel, said support beams (23) each being coated at least in part by the support slab (20).

9. Bridge (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which each reinforcing member (21) comprises at least two support beams (23) and a plurality of attachment systems (24) made of self-skid steel, the plurality of attachment systems (24) projecting from each support beam (23), said hanging systems (24) being coated by the support slab (20).

10. Bridge (2) according to claim 9, further comprising at least one reinforcing plate (25) extending between the support beams (23) and the underside of the support slab (20), the plurality of attachment systems (24) projecting from said reinforcing plate (25).

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