Innovative accelerated construction method for Yushan Bridge, China

Abstract

To overcome poor construction conditions, shorten construction time and improve project quality, the construction of Yushan Bridge in China is a fully industrialised, based on prefabrication of key components, site installation. The navigation span of the Yushan Bridge has a main span of 260 m and is the world's first segmented precast steel–concrete composite continuous-beam bridge. A new type of steel–concrete composite segment (a girder that connects the concrete box girders and the steel box girders) is used to ensure the bearing capacity and precision of closure. Thickened-edge U-shaped ribs and ultra-high-toughness concrete pavings are employed together to improve the durability of the orthotropic deck. A single-pile and single-column foundation is fully employed, with a maximum diameter of the steel composite pile (a pile that is outside is steel pipe, and the interior is filled with concrete) of 5 m. It is found that the construction time is reduced by 40%, the wave flow force is decreased by 80%, the scouring depth is decreased by 20% and the cost is reduced by 30% compared with group pilings. In addition, this method avoids durability problems of the pile cap due to group pilings. The use of a prefabricated exterior shell with cast-on-site concrete for the interior pier-top blocks of the 50 m non-navigation span solves the problems associated with the bearing force, durability, construction availability and quality control of the pier-top block.