State-of-the-art review of the development and application of bridge rotation construction methods in China

Abstract

This work provides a comprehensive review of the development and applications of bridge rotation construction methods (BRMs) and related critical construction technologies in China. A brief history of BRMs and an outline of their categories, including the rotating structural system, are given first. Subsequently, a discussion on the recent practice of BRMs in China is carried out from three types of bridges: (1) continuous beam and rigid frame bridges; (2) arch bridges; (3) cable-stayed bridges. For each group, a survey of the vital bridge cases that have adopted BRMs in China in the past two decades is provided. Key parameters, including the structure weight of rotation, maximum cantilever span, and rotation duration, are also compared and discussed. Afterward, the principles and applications of the weighing test and the spherical hinge stability, which are both related to the safety of the horizontal rotation construction process, are analyzed in the paper. Additionally, the limitations of BRMs are presented and discussed, and the article concludes with a summary of the current use and future trend of BRMs. The information and experience of BRMs provided in this work can be referenced by engineers and researchers who are devoted to the construction of bridges.