Die Netzwerkbogenbrücke,ein überaus effizientes Brückentragwerk – Tragwirkung und Konstruktion

The network arch bridge, an extremely efficient structure – Structural behaviour and construction. In difference to popular tied arch bridges with vertical hangers the arch and lower chord of network arch bridges are connected with inclined hangers. These hangers are placed in such a way that they intersect among each other at least twice. Furthermore more hangers will be used. So the distances between the connection points at the arch and the lower chord are substantially smaller than in the case of classical tied arch bridges. There are two reasons for the use of such a network. The first point is the advantageous structural behaviour of inclined hangers if the bridge is only partially loaded. Secondly the bending moments in arch and lower chord will be strongly reduced. In fact of this a slender structure and a saving of 20% of the structural steel is possible. In the present paper the structural effect and the construction of this bridge type will be explained. Finally a comparison between vertical and inclined hangers is shown to clarify the advantages of network arch bridges.