Largest Bi-Purposed Bridge in the World
Xie Weihong, Juhani Virola, Ding Dajun
1. Brief introduction
The Wuhan Tianxinzhou bi-purposed bridge over Yangtze River (Fig.1, 2)[1] with
main span l=504m is located on the lower
reaches with a distance of 9.5km to the 2
nd
Fig.1 Full view of Tianxinzhou Bridge
(courtesy of Prof. Guo Youzhong)
Wuhan Bridge (cable-stayed bridge with main
l=400m) opened in 1995[2] and will be the largest
Fig.2 Main Tianxinzhou Bridge
(courtesy of Prof. Guo Youzhong)
one in the world after completion. It is being constructed to span the Tianxinzhou
which is an islet standing in Yangtze River (zhou means islet in Chinese).
2. Major bridge and approachings
The major bridge spanning over south river branch is a cable-stayed one with
bi-pylon and 3 cable planes, the spans of which distribute as follows: 98+196+504+
196+98m (Fig.3), with south approaching 15×40.7m box girders. The super deck of
Fig.3 Lay-out of main bridge
bridge is designed for 6-lane highway, and the
lower for 4-line (8 tracks), among which 2 are
designed following 1st grade truck line and the other 2 following the special use for
passenger transport. 3 stiffening girders are new plate-truss composite structures of
N-type trusses with the width = 2×15m, truss height = 15.2m and panel length =
14.0m. For highway bridge, the composite systems of orthotropic plate or concrete
deck and steel truss is adopted; for railway bridge the composite system of concrete
deck and steel truss is used. The major bridge spanning north river branch: 62×40.7m
box girders + (54.2+2×80+54.2m continuous concrete girders) + 4×40.7m box girders.
The length with highway and railway constructed together is 2842m, then is separated
into high ways and railway running parallel with highway being located on upper
reaches and the railway on lower. The whole length of 6-lane highway approaching is
8043m and that of railway is 60.3km. The highway is designed following operating
1
velocity 80km/hr, and the design velocity of railway for passenger transport is
200km/hr, with a simulating dynamical design of velocity of 250km/hr.
This Bridge has been constructed on 28th Sept. 2004 and the constructed
completion will be scheduled on 31st Aug. 2008.
3. Bridge pylon
The main pylons are concrete structures with inverted Y-shape, its height above
pile cap is 188.5m, on both sides of pylon there are 3×16φ7 stays constituted of
galvanizing parallel wires. For the pile foundation of main pier ② and ③, the
projects of pile diameters 2.5, 3.0, 3.3 and 3.4m, all with pile length of 60m were
compared, the project of φ3.4 has the minium consummation of concrete and steel:
27123m3/2529t under pier ② and 47152m3/3434t under pier ③, finally the bored
piles with diameter of 3.4m are used as the foundations of pylon, there are 32 piles in
pier ② and 40 in ③. These piles were constructed by using new technique in
non-uniform conglomerate composed of soft and hard matter, the dynamical bit (of a
drill) with torsional capacity of 30t·m was adopted firstly in China, developed by the
constructer.
On the pylon, there are set hydraulic dampers with large tonnage.
4. Foundation
A double-walled steel cofferdam is adopted as the cap.
Fig.4 shows pylon pier ② to adopt the new
technology of precisely locating with prestressing
Fig.4 construction of pylon pier ②
(courtesy of Prof. Guo Youzhong)
from anchorage pier after the double-walled steel coffer of pier ② was transported
by floating method to its place.
The steel coffer of pier ② with dimensions of 57.60m (length) ×31.2m (width)
×14.5m (height), of which the wall thickness is 2.0m. In the coffer, there are set
alternate bays at bottom with height of 4.5m. This coffer was integrally transported by
floating method and located successfully.
The steel coffer dimensions of pier ③ are 69.5m×44m×15.0m with wall
thickness of 2.0m and the height of bottom alternate bays of 5.0m.
Fig.5 shows the driving of the steel protecting sleeves with diameter of 3.6m for
2
casting concrete piles.
Fig.6 shows the reinforcement cage used in
Fig.5Construction of pylon pier ③
(provided by Engr. Xie Weihong)
piles with diameter of 3.4m.
Fig.6 Reinforcement cage
(provided by Eng. Xie Weihong)
120t-floating-crane is a new large equipment
designed by Zhongtie Bridge Bereua Group Ltd
Fig.7 Hoisting steel pile sleeve
for by using 120t-floating-crane
(provided by Eng. Xie Weihong)
Company (ZBBGLC). Fig.7 shows using this crane
to hoist steel sleeve for pile.
Fig.8, 9 shows 2 equipments used in this
engineering,
one
is
the
drill
bit
with
Fig.8 Drill bit with wedging-tooth
hob (provided by Eng. Xie Weihong)
wedging-tooth-hob and the other vibrating hammer.
Since the April 2006, it has been started to
Fig.9 Detail of vibrating hammer
(provided by Eng. Xie Weihong)
conduct the overwater construction.
5. Summary
From the above, it can be seen that this Bridge is a mark engineering to be
constructed with new technique, new structures, new technology and new equipment.
Its complection will push forward the continuous development of bridge construction
in the world.
Tianxinzhou
Bridge
is
a
major
construction
project
in
the
State
“Tenth-Five-Years-Plan”. It is constructed by Hubei Province People’s Government
and State Railway Ministry. The total invest amounts to 110.6×108 Yuan Renminbi
(deverted to 13.5×108 US$ or so).
References
1. Brief Introduction of Engineering to Wuhan Tianxinzhou Bi-Purposed Yangtze
River Bridge (in Chinese). Headquarters of Wuhan Tianxinzhou Yangtze River
Bridge Engineering, Zhongtie Bridge Bereua, Dec. 2004, 8pp
2. Ding Dajun, Jiang Yongsheng. Introduction to Civil Engineering (in Chinese).
China Building & Architecture Press. 2003, 410pp.
3. Qin Shunquan. Selection of Foundation of Main Pylon and Its Construction
Technique of Wuhan Tianxingzhou Yangtze River Bridge. Proceedings of the 17th
3
National Symposium on Bridges (in Chinese), 2006, Chongqing. Communications
Press, Beijing, pp.73-79
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