Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Numerical Validation of the Incremental Launching Method of a Steel Bridge Through a Small-Scale Experimental Study

  • Published:
Experimental Techniques Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This article presents an experimental and a numerical study of an incremental launching process of a steel bridge. The former is deployed in a scale-reduced laboratory,whereas the latter is performed using the finite elementmethod. The numerical simulation is based upon realistic transient boundary conditions and accurately reproduces the elastic response of the steel bridge during launching. This numerical approach is validated experimentally with the scale-reduced test performed at the laboratory. The properly validated numerical model is subsequently systematically employed as a simulation tool of the process. The proposed simulation protocol might be useful for design and monitoring purposes of steel bridges to be launched. Results concerning strains, stresses, and displacements might be inferred from the model and thus compared to field measurements obtained in situ. The conditions presented at the end of the article are potentially useful for researchers and practice engineers alike.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. LaViolette, M., Wipf, T., and Lee, Y., Bridge Construction Practices Using Incremental Launching, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, AASHTO, Ames, Iowa (2007).

  2. Rosignoli, M., Bridge Launching, Thomas Telford, London, UK (2002).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Baur, W., “Bridge Erection by Launching is Fast, Safe and Efficient,” Civil Engineering–ASCE 47(3): 60–63 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Gohler, B., and Pearson, P., Incrementally Launched Bridges. Design and Construction, Ernst and Sohn, Berlin (2000).

  5. Alistair, P., Large and Small Incrementally Launched Structures, Transportation Research Record 1696 (5B0060), Transportation Research Board, Washington D.C. (2000).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Zellner, W., and Svensson, H., “Incremental Launching of Structures,” Journal of Structural Engineering 109(2): 520–537 (1983).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Rosignoli, M., “Site Restrictions Challenge Bridge Design,” Concrete International 20(8): 40–44 (1998).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Rosignoli, M., “Pre-sizing of Prestressed Concrete Launched Bridges,” ACI Structural Journal 96(5): 705–711 (1999).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Rosignoli, M., “Nose-Deck Interaction in Launched Prestressed Concrete Bridges,” Journal of Bridge Engineering 3(1): 21–27 (1998).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Rosignoli, M., “Reduced-Transfer-Matrix Method of Analysis of Launched Bridges,” ACI Structural Journal 96(4): 603–608 (1999).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Rosignoli, M., “Monolithic Launch of the Reggiolo Overpass,” Concrete International 29(2): 26–30 (2001).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Granath, P., “Distribution of Support Reaction Against a Steel Girder on a Launching Shoe,” Journal of Constructional Steel Research 47(3): 245–270 (1998).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Granath, P., Thorsson, A., and Edlund, B., “I-Shaped Steel Girders Subjected to Bending Moment and Travelling Patch Loading,” Journal of Constructional Steel Research 54(3): 409–421 (2000).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Granath, P., “Serviceability Limit State of I-Shaped Steel Girders Subjected to Patch Loading,” Journal of Constructional Steel Research 54(3): 387–408 (2000).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Favre, R., Badoux, M., Burdet, O., and Laurencet, P., “Incremental Launching for the Ile Falcon Bridge,” Concrete International 21(2): 46–51 (1999).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Hewson, N., and Hodgkinson, A., “Incremental Launch of Brides Glen Bridge, Ireland, Concrete,” Vol. 38(7): 29–31 (2004).

  17. Zhuravov, L., Chemerinsky, O., and Seliverstov, V., “Launching Steel Bridges in Russia,” Journal of International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE) 6(3): 183–186 (1996).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Marzouk, M., El-Dein, H., and El-Said, M., “Application of Computer Simulation to Construction of Incrementally Launching Bridges,” Journal of Civil Engineering and Management 13(1): 27–36 (2007).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Xu, R., and Shao, B., “A New Beam Element for Incremental Launching of Bridges,” Journal of Bridge Engineering 17(5): 1–19 (2011).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Chacón, R., Guzmán, F., Mirambell, E., Real, E., and Oñate, E., “Wireless Sensor Networks for Strain Monitoring During Steel Bridges Launching,” International Journal of Structural Health Monitoring 8(3): 195–205 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Wipf, T., Phares, B., Abendroth, R., Chang, B., Abraham, S., “Monitoring of the Launched Girder Bridge over the Iowa River on US 20,” Final Report CTRE Project 01–108. Center for Transportation Research and Education, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa (March 2004).

  22. Lebet, J., Measurements Taken During the Launch of the 130 m Span Vaux Viaduct, Steelbridge, OTUA, Millau (2004).

  23. Zhang, Y., and Luo, R., “Patch Loading and Improved Measures of Incremental Launching of Steel Box Girder,” Journal of Constructional Steel Research 68(1): 11–19 (2012).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Martins, O.P., and Sampaio, A.Z., “Bridge Launching Construction Visualized in a Virtual Environment,” The International Journal of Virtual Reality 10(2): 49–56 (2011).

    Google Scholar 

  25. Kuhlmann, U. et al. Combri Design Manual –Part I Applications of Euro Code Rules, 1st edition, Stuttgart, Germany (2008).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Buckingham, E., “On Physically Similar Systems. Illustrations of the Use of Dimensional Equations,” Physical Review 4: 345–376 (1914).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Blanco, E., Oller, S., and Gill, L., Análisis Experimental de estructuras, CIMNE, Barcelona (2007 (in Spanish)).

  28. CATMAN Easy V 6.10, Hottinger Baldwin Messtechnik HBM, Darmstadt, Germany (2012).

  29. Uribe N. Reproducción numérica y experimental del proceso de lanzamiento de un puente metálico por empujes sucesivos, Master’s Thesis, Construction Engineering Department, ETSICCPB, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (2012) (in Spanish), URL http://upcommons.upc.edu/pfc/handle/2099.1/14898 [accessed on 25 November 2013].

  30. Lindgren, B.W., Statistical Theory, 2nd Edition, The Mcmillan Company, New York (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  31. Abaqus FEA, Simulia© V6.10.3, Dassault Systémes, Paris, Boston, Tokyo (2012).

  32. Marzouk, M., Said, H., and El-Said, M., “Framework for Multiobjective Optimization of Launching Girder Bridges,” Journal of Construction Engineering and Management 135(8): 791–800 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Construction Engineering Department, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Barcelona Tech, Barcelona, Spain

    R. Chacón & N. Uribe

  2. International Centre for Numerical Methods in Engineering (CIMNE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Barcelona Tech, Barcelona, Spain

    S. Oller

Authors
  1. R. Chacón
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. N. Uribe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. Oller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. Chacón.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chacón, R., Uribe, N. & Oller, S. Numerical Validation of the Incremental Launching Method of a Steel Bridge Through a Small-Scale Experimental Study. Exp Tech 40, 333–346 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40799-016-0037-5

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40799-016-0037-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation