Balanced Cantilever Bridges Research Articles

The landmark Metsovitikos Bridge, Greece

Egnatia motorway in northern Greece is one of the largest civil engineering projects in Europe; Metsovitikos Bridge is one of its two landmark structures. A scheme incorporating a pier-less suspension bridge with inclined hangers was originally selected by the client through a design competition between three distinguished European firms of consultants. Despite the novelty and elegance of this scheme, its well-advanced design was abandoned due to uncertainties regarding the long-term stability of a landslip behind one of the cable anchorages. The design was subsequently replaced by a balanced cantilever bridge scheme with a main span of 235 m, believed to be the longest-span bridge of its kind in the Balkans. This paper explains the suspension bridge design, outlines its advantages and disadvantages, and describes the design and construction of the balanced cantilever bridge in some detail.

Special-Purpose Simulation Model for Balanced Cantilever Bridges

Construction of bridges’ decks involves different types of resources that interact in a cyclic manner. Further, the construction operation inherits uncertainties and a variety of demands. Contractors have to select the construction method that suits project constraints including: project conditions, technical, financial, and time constraints. There are several construction methods that can be used to construct bridges’ decks. This paper presents a special-purpose simulation model that aids government agencies and/or their representative in planning the construction of bridges’ decks using cast-in-place and precast balanced cantilever techniques. The pouring of concrete in cast-in-place balanced cantilever techniques can be executed either by using pump station and pump line, or truck mixers, whereas, the precast balanced cantilever technique is carried out using two methods: (1) placement by an independent lifting apparatus; and (2) placement with the help of a beam and winch carried by the bridge deck it...

CONSTRUCTION OF THE SANTUBONG BRIDGE, SARAWAK.

The paper describes the construction of the first prestressed concrete balanced cantilever bridge at Sarawak. Special mention is made of the importance of including preliminary piles in a contract for a major bridge crossing, and details are given of what is believed to be one of the largest load tests ever conducted on a pile over water in South-East Asia. An interesting feature of the bridge was the use of precast concrete permanent formwork units in the construction of two large pilecaps located in the inter-tidal zone of the Santubong River, and the use of similar units in the construction of the 4 m deep fender protection beams around each of these pilecaps. (A)