Bascule Bridge Research Articles

Structural design and lifecycle analysis of an orthotropic steel deck bascule bridge

This study presents the structural design and lifecycle analysis of an orthotropic steel deck (OSD) bascule bridge in Viareggio (Italy), considering various operational states and constraints. The analysis varied the bridge’s opening angle in 15-degree increments from 0 to 90 degrees, using two steel grades, S355 and S450, by comparing hydraulic or electro-mechanically driven activation mechanisms. The findings reveal that as the static model transitions from pinned-pinned to cantilevered when the bridge is opened, the structural demand for bending moment and shear force increases, with a maximum of nearly 15°–30°. At the same time, axial forces shift from tensile to compressive. Structural design has been carried out using higher grade steel (S450), which has led to a 17.17% mass reduction, cost savings of 3.4%, and a notable decrease in CO2 emissions by 16%. This proves that despite using higher-grade steel characterized by more significant CO2 emissions, the mass reduction associated with the refined design leads to an overall lower environmental footprint. This fact underscores the importance of selecting proper steel grades for steel to achieve an optimal trade-off between CO2 emissions and mass reduction.

Design of Automated Bascule Bridge and Collision Avoidance with Water Traffic

Abstract The development of movable bridges is a modern technological advancement that requires the integration of multi-disciplinary concepts such as control, automation, and design. In order to demonstrate how a collision avoidance system works, this research offers the design of an automated double-leaf bascule bridge with a pulley-rope moving mechanism and Pratt truss. The bridge is created where a settled railway or roadway intersection of a navigable stream cannot attain a steep profile. The design took into account the length, height, and width of the bridge as well as automatic ship identification and scaffold leaf movement activity for ship crossing. For the safe passage of cars on the bridge and for stopping vehicles during bridge movement, the system includes a collision avoidance control system and an automated road barrier system. After sensor adjustment, the model bridge’s performance under test produced results that were adequate, with a success rate of 100%.

Idiopathic Macular Hole: Algorithm for Nonsurgical Closure Based on Literature Review.

Our purpose is to review the closure time and optical coherence tomography (OCT) biomarkers that result in the non-surgical repair of idiopathic full-thickness macular holes (IFTMH). Our methodology consisted of a comprehensive literature review of the nonsurgical resolution of IFTMH followed by the calculation of the estimated closure time using the structural equation model. Forty-nine studies were found eligible yielding 181 eyes with IFTMH: 81.1% being small holes (250 µm) with a median diameter of 166 µm. Final vision (mean 20/41) was related to initial vision (mean 20/65) and mean age (67 years). The hole diameter was correlated with initial vision and closure time (mean 3.9 months). Closure time was related to hole diameter and initial vision in the following algorithm: Closure time (month)= 0.057 + 0.008 diameter (µm) + 0.021 age (year) + 2.153 initial vision (logMAR). Biomarkers by OCT for self-closure included in decreasing frequency: pointed edge, de-turgescence of cystic macular edema (CME) with reversal of bascule bridge, and vitreomacular traction (VMT) release. The crucial function of Muller cell bridging in sealing the hole attests to its exceptional capacity for regeneration. After the hole has begun to close; however in less than 5%, a delayed restoration of the ellipsoid layer or a persistent outer foveal defect may prevent visual recovery and reopening of the hole is possible. In conclusion, eyes with small-size IFTMH and good baseline vision can have the additional option of close OCT monitoring for biomarkers of self-sealing biomarkers. When rehabilitative activity seems to be lacking, surgery is therefore mandatory.

Renovating the Van Brienenoord Bridge Steelwork in mechanical system of bascule bridge spanning 50m.

AbstractThe Van Brienenoord Bridge is a large bridge which includes three movable bascules. The two oldest bascules stem from 1965. A study into renovation and/or replacement of these bascules has been performed and replacement was deemed necessary. A new design for the mechanical driving system has been made, where the design of the western bascule served as starting point. The regulations and requirements have become more stringent since 1965, however the available space is restricted by the existing concrete structure. A steel rack and pinion design is chosen as the best option for the mechanical driving system. In the design of the steel rack, several considerations have been made with respect to the material choice. A fully welded construction was desired due to the lower weight of the construction. However, stringent requirements are made with respect to the hardness, yield strength and tensile strength in several locations of the rack. After considerable calculations and consulting suppliers/manufacturers the tooth rack will be made of 25CrMo4 as the best compromise between material properties and weldability. The pinion material is selected as 34CrNiMo6 since weldability is not an issue. The choice here has to do with the minimum required mechanical properties (even above‐normative refinement). The connection to the concrete structure consists of an eye which is rather big and bulky. This is considered to be rather conservative due to the calculations methods and leaves room for optimisation.

Renovation of the Van Brienenoord Bridge, The Netherlands

Part of the Netherlands’ busiest highway, the Van Brienenoord Bridge comprises 12 lanes of traffic split across the eastbound bridge built in the 1960 s and the western bridge built in the 1990 s. The Van Brienenoord Bridge complex consisting of two parallel 300 m span steel arch bridges, approach structures and three parallel bascule bridges over the New Meuse. The bridges carry about 230,000 vehicles daily. A strengthening and replacement strategy was developed to reduce road closures to one of the two bridges at a time and reducing this time to weeks instead of months. The strengthening consists of plate stiffeners to the main girders and arches and a new deck. Construction begins in 2025 and will extend the bridge’s useful life to another 100 years. The strengthening instead of replacing is in line with RWS’ commitment to adopting circular economy principles for their infrastructure network.

온도에 따른 도개교량의 구성 부품별 진동 민감도 분석

선박의 이동을 돕는 역할을 하는 bascule bridge는 해외에서 수십 년 이상 주의 깊게 정비하며 연구되고 있다. 도개교는 매일 혹은 자주 도개가 일어나기 때문에 유지보수가 매우 중요하며 특히 도개시 도개 부품별 진동 민감도에 대한 연구가 필요하다. 최근 교량의 유지보수 및 안전에 대한 요구가 높아져 안전점검이 이루어지고 있으나, 도개교에 대한 측정 및 분석은 부족한 실정이다. 국내 유일의 도교인 영도대교는 부식과 노후화로 철거되었다가 2013년 재건되어 현재 하루에 한 번 운영되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 도개교인 영도대교의 도개과정 및 상시거동을 계측하고, 진동 및 소음 민감도를 측정, 분석하여 도개교의 실제 거동을 파악하였다.

Analysis of Different Bascule Bridge Architectures

Bascule bridges are widely used nowadays to overcome the obstruction of ships passage as crossing waterways and in some roadways to overcome transport vehicle height limitation. A Bascule bridge is a movable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances a span, or "leaf", throughout its upward swing to provide clearance for boat or ship traffic. It may be single or double leafed. Balance Beam Bascule Bridge is one of the famous bascule bridge architecture in which bridge span counter balance weight is attached to a balance beam in the movable bridge operating mechanism. Although hydraulic cylinders is a particularly common solution to power majority of modern bascule bridges, it is very important to understand the kinematics and motion of the bridge leave for optimum operation of the bridge with prober counter balance selection. In this study a review of two operating hydraulic actuators arrangements; push arrangement and pull arrangement is carried out based on both design aspects and safety consideration. 3D model of the study mechanisms are constructed and a kinematics of bridge leaf (span) opening mechanisms are developed for early stage design configuration of bridge mechanism. kinematic analyses of bridge mechanism operation in both push and pull arrangements based on rigid body consideration is performed and Numerical analysis using finite element method is carried out in which stress distribution over tie rods is obtained. Some failure scenarios are introduced. Results show that tension forces acting on tie rods in pull arrangement is lower than that in push arrangement, work done by hydraulic cylinders (Actuators) in both arrangement is nearly identical and pull arrangement is much better than push arrangement from safety point of view.

Tower Road bascule bridge, Birkenhead, UK

The A554 Tower Road connects Wallasey and Birkenhead on the Wirral, north west England. The road crosses the entrance to Birkenhead docks from the River Mersey by way of a moveable bridge, which is of major strategic importance in the local highway network. The previous ‘A’ bridge, built in 1933, was a Scherzer type bascule lifting bridge with 34.4 m main span, one of four similar bridges that once existed along Tower Road. The deteriorating condition of the bridge, the increasing maintenance costs and the consequential impact of maintenance on the local economy resulted in a decision to replace the bridge with a modern, low-maintenance, lifting bridge. This paper provides the background to the bridge replacement project, including the reasons for replacement with a similar Scherzer bascule bridge. The civil, mechanical and electrical design is described and some of the significant issues encountered during implementation and commissioning are discussed. The new bridge has successfully created a local landmark, contributing to the client Wirral Council's vision for the redevelopment of this dockland area as part of the Wirral Waters regeneration project.

Controlling motion of metal bascule structures by fluid power system (exemplified by lifting of bascule bridge span)

This article discusses the dynamics of power processes upon motion of bascule metal structures peculiar for many lifting heavy-duty mechanisms. Due to the forces of inertia, during the acceleration of the mechanism with a load, fluctuations in power parameters occur: efforts; stress; pressures that can lead to the destruction of the metal structures of machines. Due to high alternating load oscillations, the working capacity of machinery decreases about 3 times, herewith, this problem is traced for machinery in various industries. Using the motion of large-tonnage span of bascule bridge as the example, at the design stage it is proposed to apply simulation modeling in order to determine optimum law of drive control, in particular: the law of variation of flow rate in fluid power systems. The article presents the results of simulation of hydraulic lifting mechanisms of a single-wing bascule bridge. Two basic algorithms of proportional control are considered: by the form of the function in the form of a trapezoid and by the form of the cosine function. The results indicate the possibility of significantly reducing the amplitude of fluctuations in load parameters during acceleration of mechanisms and, thereby, to increase the service life of heavy machines. To achieve such results, it is recommended to change the existing algorithms for automatic control of the speed of the mechanisms of heavy machines. Despite the fact that this issue has been studied quite well in cybernetics, it still remains relevant in applied technical specialties, in the design of modern heavy machines. In project organizations, along with constructive design methods, digital, computational design methods should be actively developed.

Framework to Approximate the Value of Information of Bridge Load Testing for Reserve Capacity Assessment

In developed countries, structural assessment of existing bridges should not be performed using the same conservative models that are used at the design stage. Field measurements of real behaviour provide additional information for the inference of previously unknown reserve capacity. Structural identification helps identify suitable models as well as values for parameters that influence behaviour. Since the information gained by the measurement system has a direct impact on structural identification, studies on optimal sensor placement have been extensively carried out. However, information collected during monitoring comes at a cost that may not be justified by its influence on asset-manager actions. A metric called value of information measures if the price of collecting information is justified when compared with the potential influence on asset-manager decision-making. This paper presents a framework to approximate the value of information of bridge load testing for reserve-capacity assessment. Additionally, an approach based on levels of approximation is used to provide a practical strategy for the assessment of the value of information. The framework provides guidance to asset managers to evaluate whether the information from controlled-condition monitoring, collected at a cost, may influence their assessment of reserve capacity. Several scenarios of monitoring systems are compared using their respective potential influence on asset-manager decisions and cost of monitoring, using a full-scale case study: the Exeter Bascule Bridge.

Modeling for supervisor synthesis \u2013 a lock-bridge combination case study

Designing supervisory controllers for high-tech systems is becoming increasingly complex due to demands for verified safety, higher quality and availability, and extending functionality. Supervisor synthesis is a method to automatically derive a supervisor from a model of the plant and a model of the control requirements. While supervisor synthesis is an active research topic, only a few reports exist on industrial applications. One of the reasons for this is the lack of acquaintance of control engineers with modeling and specifying in the framework of automata. In addition to this, there are no clear guidelines for obtaining the necessary models for synthesis. In this paper, we describe a general way of modeling for the plant and the requirements in order to contribute towards the acceptance of supervisor synthesis in industry. This way of modeling is illustrated with an industrial case study in which a supervisory controller is synthesized for the Algera complex. The Algera complex consists of a waterway lock and a movable bascule bridge. The supervisor has to control 80 actuators based on the observations from 96 discrete sensors, in response to 63 control commands available from the operator. We show how to model the plant as a collection of extended finite-state automata, how to model the requirement as a collection of event conditions, how to synthesize the monolithic supervisor, and how to validate the resulting supervisor using continuous-time simulation.

Revisiting some important heritage bridges of Calcutta, India

This paper attempts to cover the planning, design and construction of five bridges in Calcutta, India, reconstructed after World War I and still in operation, constructed across the city’s Circular Canal and Tolly Nullah. These bridges were reconstructed with an aim to replace the existing bridges at these locations, which were unsuitable due to the emerging city traffic conditions. All these bridges are still in operation (except Chitpore Bridge, which is currently under inspection for retrofitting). The five bridges covered are the twin-leaf bascule bridge at Kidderpore, Tollygunge Bridge crossing Tolly Nullah, Beliaghata Bridge across the Circular Canal, Alipore Bridge across Tolly Nullah at Alipore and Chitpore Bridge over the Circular Canal. The first one is a twin-leaf rolling lift bascule structure with counterweights disposed below the roadway level. The bridges at Tollygunge, Alipore and Chitpore are of reinforced-concrete bowstring type. Beliaghata Bridge is a reinforced-concrete three-hinged arch-type bridge. These bridges were mostly supported on piled foundations with innovative solutions adopted to tackle the poor-quality alluvial Calcutta soil at these sites. Advanced construction techniques were adopted considering the type of traffic, existing utilities and available space at construction sites. This paper converges to their present condition and tries to identify possible rehabilitation methods.

Successful Moveable Bridges: A description of 5 Successful Moveable Danish Bridges

ABSTRACT:The present paper describes developments in the design of the most common types of movable bridges – Bascule bridges and Swing Bridges. The selection of design concepts is influenced by span, foundation conditions as well as environmental issues. Application of modern hydraulic systems and innovative bearing types for swing bridges facilitate the creation of outstanding designs. Recently built movable bridges in Denmark exemplifies the trend and how application of modern technology and creativity can lead to outstanding solutions. There are many governing parameters such as the main dimension and loading conditions. Equally important issues such as surroundings, landscape, foundation conditions, requirement to low weight, achievable tolerances and from a mechanical point of view, the operation time, risk assessment, mechanical‐ and electrical systems and the requirement to operation time and maintenance cost, will have influence on the machinery and the architectural and structural design. For each of the moveable bridges described, it is shown how innovative application of modern bearing concepts and hydraulic systems can lead to elegant and cost‐effective solutions.

Turn for The Better

The Johnson Street Bridge has served as a critical link to the city of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, for many years. A single-leaf bascule bridge that is functional and visually appealing replaced the previous structure, which comprised twin Strauss bascule bridges. The project delivery included a blend of design/bid/build aspects with features of alternative project delivery models.

A multi-criteria decision framework to support measurement-system design for bridge load testing

Due to conservative design models and safe construction practices, infrastructure usually has unknown amounts of reserve capacity that exceed code requirements. Quantification of this reserve capacity has the potential to lead to better asset-management decisions by avoiding unnecessary replacement and by lowering maintenance expenses. However, such quantification is challenging due to systematic uncertainties that are present in typical structural models. Field measurements, collected during load tests, combined with good structural-identification methodologies may improve the accuracy of model predictions. In most structural-identification tasks, engineers usually select and place sensors based on experience and high signal-to-noise estimations. Since the success of structural identification depends on the measurement system, research into measurement system design has been carried out over several decades. Despite the multi-criteria nature of the problem, most researchers have focused only on the information gained by the measurement system. This study presents a framework to evaluate and rank possible measurement-system designs based on a tiered multi-criteria strategy. Performance criteria for the design of measurement systems include monitoring costs, information gain, ability to detect outliers and impact of loss of information in case of sensor failure. Through including conflicting criteria, such as cost of monitoring and information gain, the optimal measuring system becomes a Pareto-like choice that ultimately depends on asset-manager preference hierarchies. Several potential preference scenarios are generated and results are compared using a full-scale test study, the Exeter Bascule Bridge. The framework successfully supports an informed design of measurement systems by providing an extensive set of alternatives, including the best solution defined probabilistically and for specific conditions when other near-optimal solutions might be preferred.

Assessment of a bascule lift bridge using digital image correlation

The LaSalle Causeway lift bridge is a 100 year old highway bridge that is integral to the transportation network of Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Rehabilitation of the bridge was planned to address corrosion of the bottom chord and a gap identified at the support of the lifting end. To determine the effectiveness of this rehabilitation, the displacements of the bridge were monitored before and after the rehabilitation, during a static load test, and under regular traffic loading. Since the bridge crosses the Cataraqui River, there are no stationary reference points near midspan from which to measure displacement using conventional sensors. For this reason, digital image correlation was selected as an appropriate monitoring technology. Displacements at the midspan and supports of the bridge were recorded and used to assess the performance of the bridge. The results of this research indicate that the bridge complies with displacement limits and that the rehabilitation of the bridge was successful in rehabilitating the support conditions of the bridge.

Rooms With a View

The recently completed extension of the Riverwalk in downtown Chicago comprises six reimagined blocks of walkways along the main branch of the Chicago River. Envisioned as six themed “rooms” connected by canopied sections beneath the bascule bridges, the new blocks add valuable space and give pedestrians access to nature in the city's core. Since construction would be carried out beside an active waterway and within a complex urban environment, the design had to address multiple geotechnical and structural challenges.

Monitoring of a bascule bridge during rehabilitation

Monitoring of a bascule bridge during rehabilitation

실측자료에 근거한 도개교량의 거동 분석

하천 또는 해안의 선박운항을 위한 도개교는 그 희소성으로 인해 최근에는 랜드마크로의 역할을 인정받으면서, 국외의 경우 세심한 유지관리로 수십 년 이상 공용기간을 지속하고 있는 사례가 적지 않다. 국내 유일의 도개교인 영도대교는 부식과 노화로 철거 후, 2013년에 재가설 되었으며, 현재 1일 1회 도개를 실시하고 있다. 최근 교량의 안전과 유지관리에 대한 요구가 높아지면서 주기적인 안전진단이 수행되지만 도개교에 대한 계측 및 분석 사례는 거의 없는 실정이다. 이에 본 연구에서는 도개교가 상승 및 하강하는 도개과정과 상시 사용상태에서의 계측자료를 토대로 구조해석을 실시하여 도개교의 응력, 진동, 반력 등 실제 거동을 분석하고자 하였으며, 이 결과는 추후 공용연수의 증가 및 도개횟수의 증가에 따른 교량거동의 변동 추세를 분석하기 위한 초기 자료로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 기대된다. Bascule bridge, with its use to help vessels ply, has a several examples overseas of being serviced for more than decades years by careful maintenance, admitted its significance as landmarks for its rareness. Yeongdo Bridge, the sole bascule bridge in Korea was reconstructed in 2013 after being demolished because of its corrosion and aging, and now operates once in a day. Recently, safety inspections are executed thanks to demands getting higher for maintenance and safety of bridges, but measurement and analysis about bascule bridges are scarce. This study includes the analysis of the bascule bridge's behavior such as stress, vibration and reaction in normal condition and while it lifts up, based on measurement. We expect that this study will be used as an initial data to compare and confirm bridge's changes as service year and the number of operation increase.

Hybrid Sensor-Camera Monitoring for Damage Detection: Case Study of a Real Bridge

AbstractThis article presents the real-world implementation of a novel monitoring system in which video images and conventional sensor network data are simultaneously analyzed to detect possible damage on a movable bridge. The monitoring system was designed to detect such problems at the onset of damage. A video stream of traffic is processed to detect and classify vehicles to determine the vehicle load and location, while strain measurements are simultaneously collected at various critical locations on the bridge for both normal and damage conditions. A series of unit influence lines can then be extracted for all of the scenarios using the image and sensor data. Because large data sets result from continuous monitoring, the system also includes a statistical outlier-detection algorithm. The proposed methodology was successfully used to detect and locate common damage scenarios on a real-world bascule bridge.