Innovationen im Stahl‐ und Verbundbrückenbau

Innovations in steel and composite bridge construction: Accessibility of steel box girders for inspection and maintenance – New developments for the protection against corrosion. The German road transport network is one of the best and most efficient in the world. Roads are the lifelines of a vital economy. As an indispensable component of the transport infrastructure they ensure growth, prosperity and quality of life. In order to preserve or enhance its efficiency, it is necessary to constantly maintain and reconstruct the transport network as well as to upgrade and extend it. A modern road transport network is not conceivable without steel and composite bridges. These types of construction are used in many ways, their elements can to a large extent be industrially prefabricated, they are economically efficient and have a long service life. Owing to its low dead weight and its good load‐bearing capacity which makes it suitable for large spans, steel is a material which is widely used for the construction of large bridges. But for the design of smaller bridges, too, steel is a good material whereas composite materials are generally used for medium‐span bridges. Steel and composite bridges are in economic competition with other types of construction. Economic efficiency decisively depends on the constructional design and the whole life costs. This article provides information on current regulations which have to be observed for the construction of steel box girders, on the development of new coating systems and on the hot dip galvanising of components which are subject to dynamic stresses.     

Planung und Prüfung der Talbrücke

Design and design review of the Heidingsfeld Viaduct. The Heidingsfeld Viaduct which is currently being replaced by a modern composite bridge is located south of the city of Würzburg. Due to the exposed situation of the bridge, well visible from the Würzburg City Centre, a design competition was held. The 635 m long single box girder with spans of up to 120 m is being built by the incrementally launching method. The roadway slab was cast on pre‐fabricated panels at the cantilever areas and on the closed upper chord of the steel box. This construction method is characterized by a high torsional stiffness of the steel box during construction, low weight of the concrete slab and a short and therefore economic manufacturing process.