Through Truss Bridges

One of our 50 metre clearspan, two lane roadway bridges on the Aweil Road, Eyat, Sudan

composite-bridge-data

Composite’ means that the steel structure of a bridge is fixed to the concrete structure of the deck so that the steel and concrete act together, so reducing deflections and increasing strength.

This is done using ‘shear connectors’ fixed to the steel beams and then embedded in the concrete.

Shear connectors can be welded on, perhaps using a ‘stud welder’, or better still on export work, by fixing nuts and bolts.

closed top through truss bridge

open top through truss bridge

Carriageways

Carriageways are two lanes with a total width of 7.2m between the steel crash barriers which run along both sides. These barriers prevent trucks or their payload from hitting and damaging the bridge trusses and offer protection for people and their animals crossing the bridge.

Decks

The decks are local reinforced concrete – 0.25m thick, placed on our lost formwork decking with no propping needed. They can have 0.05m of surfacing. The bridge decks are carried by two trusses at, and above, deck level and stabilised with a bracing system.

Standard Steel Through Truss Bridges For bridges above 40m span, this bracing is usually above the carriageway, between the trusses (a closed top through truss). Below 40m span, this bracing is usually from raker members down to the transoms (open top through truss).

The bridge decks are cambered from side to side using pre-cambered steel transoms and slightly cambered from end to end using the built in camber of the trusses.

Walkways

There are two walkways, both outside the main trusses, 1.2m wide, with handrails outside. The pedestrian, handcart and cycle traffic using them is protected from the vehicle traffic by the crash rails and main trusses. The walkway decks are local reinforced concrete 0.125m thick placed on our lost formwork decking.

Erection

The bridges can be erected in-situ on a temporary causeway or on temporary jackable props; or may be built on the ‘home bank’ and cantilever launched across the gap. For the cantilever launch, a ‘Launch Kit’ is needed, consisting of sets of rollers, a steel ‘launching nose’ fitted to the leading edge of the bridge (and removed for re-use after launch), and come-along cable jacks.

The bridges will sit on our elastomeric bearings on your abutments. Expansion joints for the roadway are provided at both ends.

Multi-Span

The bridges may be combined with other bridges to make multi-span crossings. The bridges can be built in-situ; or they can either be gantry launched from one end or cantilever launched.

For multi-span bridges which are to be cantilever launched it is necessary to use a ‘Link Kit’ which consists of further sets of rollers, and further jacks, and a set of link steelwork which joins adjacent bridges during the launch and roll-out. As with the Launch Kits, the Link Kits can be used again and again.

You will need one Link Kit for a two span bridge and two Link Kits for a three span bridge and so on.

50 metre span bridge being launched in South Sudan

50 metre span bridge being launched in South Sudan