Construction of Railway Bridge Over Velika Morava River Near Cuprija

Abstract

The railway bridge over the Velika Morava River is located on the Belgrade – Nis main railway line, Gilje – Cuprija – Paracin section. It is a double-track bridge with track laid on crushed-stone ballast. The bridge over the Velika Morava River has five spans. The bridge structure is a steel truss continuous beam, with spans: 52.5 + 67.5 + 82.5 + 67.5 + 52.5, in the total length of 322.5 m. Truss structure height is constant (8.0 m), and the truss width is 10.0 m. Truss consists of diagonal members, without vertical members. All truss members are of box cross-section. Metal sheet is 12 - 36mm wide. Steel grade is S 235 J2G3 for less stressed members and S 355 J2G3 for highly stressed members in the area of supports and in the middle of the bridge. The Bridge deck is orthotropic deck with longitudinal trapezoidal stiffeners and cross girders spaced at 3.75 m. The bridge structure is completely welded, only steel connections of cross girders and joints of bottom and top bracings are made with 10.9 high-strength bolts applying full tightening force. Bridge bearings are of neoprene (pot bearings). Piers are founded on HW piles, Ø1500, 34 m maximum length. The structure is assembled on embankment (in front of the bridge) and successively longitudinally launched over piers without use of auxiliary trestle. The bridge was completed and put into service in 2016.