Challenges and Innovations in Design and Construction of Supersized Structural Components for Long Span Bridges

Abstract

<p>For better cooperating river-crossing highway and railway with waterway transportations, larger spanning capability of a bridges is more demanding than ever before. Larger spans lead to supersized structural components, bringing new technical challenges to the design and construction of bridges. This paper summarizes several recent engineering innovations in the design and construction of supersized structural components for super long span bridges, including thermal-adapting tower-deck restraint system, spatial diamond-shaped tower, steel-box and core-concrete composite anchorage system, scour-mitigating skirted caisson foundation, and vortex-induced-vibration control of the main girder, so as to provide viable solutions for the design and construction challenges brought by supersized structural components of long span bridges.</p>