Concrete 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 at least one bearing element (22) of said bridge (2) and a plurality of anchor rods (21) secured on one side to the lower face of the support slab (20) so as to improve its mechanical resistance, and on the other side to said bearing element (22), said support slab (20) being at least partially made of concrete and the plurality of anchor rods (21) being at least partially made of steel, said support slab (20) at least partially encasing said anchor rods (21) and said bearing element (22) at least partially encasing said anchor rods (21). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Heavy maintenance-free concrete bridge technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of bridges, in particular 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 line over obstacles, such as, for example, gaps, roads, railway lines or watercourses, it is known to provide railway bridges at these locations to support the track. Such bridges can be made of metal and / or concrete.

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

[0005] Railway bridges are generally designed with significant dimensions, including the thickness of the slab which determines their ability to withstand the passage of a vehicle such as a train.

[0006] Over time, railway bridges require significant maintenance. In particular, 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, reseal it, and reinstall the track. Such maintenance is time-consuming, expensive, disruptive, and halts train traffic on the track for the duration of the maintenance.

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

[0008] However, these bearings wear out over time and require maintenance and replacement when they show excessive wear. Replacing the bearings requires lifting the deck, replacing the worn bearings with new ones, and reinstalling the deck. Such maintenance is time-consuming, expensive, disruptive, and halts 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 the heavy maintenance operations required for bridges. PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The invention relates to a bridge comprising a support slab. The support slab has an upper face arranged to support a traffic lane and a lower face opposite the upper face. The bridge further comprises at least one bridge support element and a plurality of anchor rods secured on one side to the lower face of the support slab so as to improve its mechanical resistance, and on the other side to the support element, the support slab being at least partially made of concrete and the plurality of anchor rods being at least partially made of steel, the support slab at least partially encasing the anchor rods and the support element at least partially encasing the anchor rods.

[0011] The support element and the plurality of steel anchor rods are configured to allow for the transfer of forces, particularly horizontal forces, from the support slab. Thus, such a bridge is particularly suitable for supporting rails. Furthermore, the interaction of the support slab, the anchor rods, and the support element facilitates bridge maintenance. Indeed, this interaction allows for easy jacking of the bridge should it become necessary, for example, to replace one of the bridge's components during maintenance. Due to their at least partial embedding, the anchor rods require little or no specific monitoring and maintenance since they are minimally or not at all exposed to external elements such as water or atmospheric air.

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

[0013] Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPFRC) has a high binder content, resulting in the absence of capillary porosity in the support slab. Thus, UHPFRC prevents water infiltration and stagnation into the support slab. This increases the lifespan of the bridge's waterproofing, at least twice that of a conventional bridge. Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPFRC) includes internal reinforcements that advantageously transmit mechanical forces to reinforcing elements, at least partially made of weathering steel. This improves the transfer of mechanical forces between the reinforcing elements and the internal reinforcements.

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

[0015] The ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete waterproofing layer protects the concrete slab, particularly from water ingress and stagnation. This increases the lifespan of the bridge's waterproofing, at least twice that of a conventional bridge. Furthermore, the waterproofing layer eliminates the need for maintenance and replacement of bridge waterproofing, namely removing the entire track, re-sealing, and reinstalling the track.

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

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

[0018] Advantageously, the bridge further comprises at least one layer of bedding mortar interposed between the slab and the support member.

[0019] Advantageously, the bedding mortar layer has a thickness of between 3 and 5 cm.

[0020] The bedding mortar layer allows for the transfer of vertical forces to the bridge.

[0021] Advantageously, the plurality of anchor rods is distributed over the width of the slab support and bearing element.

[0022] Advantageously, each anchor rod of the plurality of anchor rods presents a first half encased in the support slab and a second half encased in the support element.

[0023] Advantageously still, the support slab is entirely embedded in said support member.

[0024] At least partial embedding in the bearing eliminates the need for bearings made at least partially of rubber, and therefore their upkeep and maintenance. In particular, replacing said bearings requires lifting the support slab to replace the bearing with a new one, which results in the suspension of traffic on the bridge.

[0025] Advantageously, the bridge further comprises reinforcement bars, the support slab at least partially encasing the anchor rods and the reinforcement bars.

[0026] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, made with regard to the accompanying figures given by way of non-limiting examples and in which identical references are given to similar objects. PRESENTATION OF THE FIGURES

[0027] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, 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.

[0028] Fig. 1 is a front and cross-sectional view of a bridge according to the invention, comprising a support slab encasing at least in part a plurality of anchor rods, said plurality of anchor rods being further encased in a support member;

[0029] Figure [Fig. 2] is an exploded perspective view of the bridge in Figure [Fig. 1], in which the A plurality of anchor rods is embedded in the support member; and

[0030] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the bridge of Fig. 1, in which the plurality of anchor rods complemented by a plurality of reinforcement bars create an embedment between the support member and in the support slab.

[0031] It should be noted that the figures set out the invention in detail to implement the invention, said figures being of course able to serve to better define the invention where appropriate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] The invention relates to a bridge 2, in particular a railway bridge, allowing the support of a traffic track 1, in particular a railway track, allowing the circulation of vehicles, in particular railway vehicles.

[0033] It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the railway field but applies to any type of bridge intended to accommodate a traffic lane, road or pedestrian for example.

[0034] As illustrated in figures 1 to 3, the traffic track 1 comprises two parallel longitudinal rails 10 fixed on a plurality of sleepers arranged perpendicular to the rails 10.

[0035] The sleepers rest on ballast (not shown) which supports and stabilizes the traffic track 1. Of course, the sleepers can rest directly on the bridge 2, as illustrated in the figures.

[0036] Bridge 2 includes a support slab 20.

[0037] 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 can have a length of up to 15 m, a width of between approximately 3.5 m and 10 m, and a thickness of up to 125 cm, depending on the span of the bridge.

[0038] According to the invention, the support slab 20 is at least partially made of concrete.

[0039] Thus, the support slab 20 may contain a proportion of concrete, and in particular a proportion of ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC). UHPFRC presents It has a known compressive strength of 130 to 250 MPa and a known flexural strength of 20 to 50 MPa. Furthermore, UHPC has a high binder content, resulting in the absence of capillary porosity.

[0040] As illustrated in figures 1 to 3, the support slab 20 can comprise a slab body 200 and a sealing layer 201.

[0041] The waterproofing layer 201 covers the slab body 200 and is interposed between said slab body 200 and the traffic lane 1. The waterproofing 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.

[0042] The sealing layer 201 has a thickness of between 3cm and 5cm.

[0043] Such a thickness ensures proper implementation of the sealing layer 201 while limiting the risks of cracking and costs, in particular the costs related to the manufacture of said sealing layer 201.

[0044] The ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete waterproofing layer 201 protects the concrete slab body 200, for example, from water ingress and stagnation. The waterproofing layer 201 thus increases the service life of the bridge 2's waterproofing, making it at least twice as long as that of a conventional bridge.

[0045] The 201 sealing layer makes it possible to avoid the work involved in the maintenance and replacement of the waterproofing of bridges, namely removing all the track present on the bridge, redoing the waterproofing and reinstalling the track on the bridge.

[0046] Alternatively, the support slab 20 can be made entirely of concrete, in particular, of ultra-high performance concrete.

[0047] The ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) support slab 20 prevents water infiltration and stagnation. The UHPFRC thus increases the service life of the bridge 2's waterproofing, making it at least twice as long as that of a conventional bridge.

[0048] The UHPC support slab 20 eliminates the need for work caused by the maintenance and replacement of bridge waterproofing, namely removing all the track present on the bridge, redoing the waterproofing and reinstalling the track on the bridge.

[0049] It goes without saying that the support slab 20 could be made of a concrete mixture comprising, for example, UHPC and ordinary concrete.

[0050] The bridge 2 further comprises a plurality of anchor rods 21.

[0051] The plurality of anchor rods 21 is at least partially made of steel.

[0052] In particular, the plurality of anchor rods 21 may have a proportion of steel, or be entirely of steel.

[0053] The plurality of anchor rods 21 is secured to a part of the lower face of the support slab 20 so as to improve its mechanical resistance.

[0054] In particular, the support slab 20 at least partially encloses the plurality of anchor rods 21. With reference to [Fig.1], the plurality of anchor rods 21 is distributed over the width of the support slab 20, and the latter encloses a first half of each of the anchor rods 21.

[0055] The plurality of anchor rods 21 is secured to the support slab 20 so as to improve its mechanical resistance. In particular, and as shown in [Fig. 1], the plurality of anchor rods 21 is partially embedded in the support slab 20. Here, each half of each anchor rod 21 is embedded in the support slab 20.

[0056] With reference to [Fig.1], bridge 2 has eighteen anchor rods 21 embedded over the width of the support slab 20.

[0057] The bridge 2 according to the invention further comprises at least one support member 22 of the bridge 2 on its support.

[0058] The support member 22 is for example made of reinforced concrete.

[0059] Advantageously, the support member 22 comprises bearing devices 5 made of rubber or any other elastomer. These allow for the damping of the forces transmitted by the plurality of anchor rods 21 to the support member 22.

[0060] The plurality of anchor rods 21 is secured on the other hand to the support member 22.

[0061] In particular, the support member 22 at least partially encloses the plurality of anchor rods 21. With reference to [Fig.1], the plurality of anchor rods 21 is distributed over the width of the support member 22, and the latter encloses a second half of each of the anchor rods 21.

[0062] The plurality of anchor rods 21 is secured to the support member 22 so as to improve its mechanical strength. In particular, and as shown in [Fig. 1], the plurality of anchor rods 21 is partially embedded in the support member 22. Here, each other half of each anchor rod 21 is embedded in the support member 22.

[0063] With reference to [Fig.1], the bridge 2 has eighteen anchor rods 21 embedded over the width of the support member 22.

[0064] It is understood that the number of anchor rods 21 depends on the width of the support slab 20 and the support member 22. Indeed, the wider the support slab 20 and the support member 22, the greater the number of anchor rods 21 will be, and vice versa.

[0065] The bridge 2 may further include at least one layer of bedding mortar 3. The bedding mortar layer 3 is interposed between the support slab 20 and the bearing member 22.

[0066] Each anchor rod 21 extends on both sides of the bedding mortar layer 3. In particular, half of each anchor rod 21 extends from one side of the bedding mortar layer 3 towards the support slab 20 and the other half of each anchor rod 21 extends on the other hand from the bedding mortar layer 3, in the direction of the support member 22.

[0067] The bedding mortar layer 3 has a thickness of between 3 cm and 5 cm.

[0068] The complete embedding of the anchor rods 21 in the support slab 20 and in the bearing element 22 allows direct contact between the support slab 20 and the bedding mortar layer 3 and between the bedding mortar layer 3 and the bearing element 22. The bedding mortar layer 3 allows for the transfer of vertical forces generated on the bridge 2 and thus increases its mechanical resistance and therefore strengthens the structure of the bridge 2.

[0069] As shown in [Fig. 3], the bridge 2 also includes reinforcing bars. The support slab 20 at least partially encases the anchor rods 21 and the reinforcing bars. In particular, the support slab 20 is fully embedded in the bearing element 22 by means of the anchor rod system 21 supplemented by the reinforcing bars connecting the support slab 20 to the bearing element 22.

Claims

Demands

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 at least one bearing element (22) of said bridge (2) and a plurality of anchor rods (21) secured on one side to the lower face of the support slab (20) so as to improve its mechanical resistance, and on the other side to said bearing element (22), said support slab (20) being at least partially made of concrete and comprising a proportion of ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete and the plurality of anchor rods (21) being at least partially made of steel, said support slab (20) at least partially encasing said anchor rods (21) and said bearing element (22) at least partially encasing said anchor rods (21).

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

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

4. Bridge (2) according to claim 1, wherein the support slab (20) is entirely made of ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete.

5. Bridge (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising at least one layer of bedding mortar (3) interposed between the support slab (20) and the bearing member (22).

6. Bridge (2) according to claim 5, wherein the bedding mortar layer (3) has a thickness between 3cm and 5cm.

7. Bridge (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the plurality of anchor rods (21) is distributed over the width of the support slab (20) and the support member (22).

8. Bridge (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein each anchor rod of the plurality of anchor rods (21) has a first half embedded in the support slab (20) and a second half embedded in the bearing member (22).

9. Bridge (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising reinforcement bars, the support slab (20) at least partially encasing the anchor rods (21) and the reinforcement bars.

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