Trough Bridge Composite Frame Reduces Construction Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional trough bridges cause significant disruptions to traffic during construction due to the need for lengthy closures and complex assembly processes, especially when building abutments and integrating roadway slabs.
Innovation Solution
The trough cheeks and abutments form a monolithic composite frame made of reinforced concrete, allowing the roadway slab to be easily integrated and clamped, eliminating the need for extensive welding or screwing, and enabling the bridge to be constructed in sections that can be assembled quickly with minimal traffic interruption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional steel trough bridges are constructed with welded main girders and orthotropic slabs, then structural strength and stability are improved, but construction time and traffic disruption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge is divided into separate components: pre-assembled trough sections (with cheeks and bottom plates) and a roadway slab. These segments are manufactured separately and then connected on-site through concrete pouring, allowing parallel production and reducing overall construction time while maintaining structural integrity through the composite connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite construction approach where steel trough sections (cheeks and bottom plates) are combined with concrete ( poured into the trough form). This composite steel-concrete structure provides both the strength of steel and the durability of concrete, while the pre-assembly of steel components accelerates construction compared to fully welded steel structures.
2Stability of the object's composition
If abutments are concreted in final position with complex assembly processes, then structural stability is improved, but traffic disruption and construction complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge structure is segmented into pre-assembled trough sections that can be manufactured and prepared separately from the abutments. The trough sections include cheeks and bottom plates that form a complete structural unit, which is then integrated with the abutments through concrete pouring, simplifying the overall assembly process while maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
Concrete acts as an intermediary material that bonds the pre-assembled steel trough sections to the abutments. The concrete is poured into the trough form, creating a monolithic connection that integrates the steel components with the concrete abutments, simplifying the assembly process while ensuring structural stability.
3Strength
If roadway slabs are integrated using extensive welding or screwing, then connection strength is improved, but construction time and traffic closure duration increase
Solution Approach 1:
Concrete serves as an intermediary bonding agent between the roadway slab and the trough sections. The concrete is poured into the trough form, creating a monolithic connection that integrates the roadway slab with the bridge structure. This eliminates the need for extensive welding or screwing, significantly reducing construction time and traffic closure duration while maintaining connection strength.
Data Source
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AI summary
A trough bridge, in particular a railway bridge, with abutments and with at least one trough-shaped superstructure suitable for accommodating a roadway and comprising at least two trough stringers extending longitudinally along the bridge, between which a roadway slab comprising a heavy plate is arranged, is further developed by the fact that the trough stringers (13) together with the abutments (3) form a composite frame made of reinforced concrete. A method for constructing such a trough bridge is further developed by constructing a composite frame made of reinforced concrete with the abutments (3) and the trough stringers (13), in which a heavy plate is fastened as a roadway slab (14).