Steel Relieving Constructions in Mining Areas as Temporary or Permanent Railway Bridges

Abstract

This article describes three examples of bridge-type relieving constructions located on railway lines in the areas of active mining exploitation. It discusses how to take into account mining influences and how to support a temporary relieving construction on the railway embankment. This article discusses the incorrect solutions and their consequences. The first example involves the protection of train traffic continuity during the replacement of bridge span under an intensively used railway line. The second example shows the incorrect use of the relieving construction, leading to the relaxation of soil ground base and failure of a small brick arch railway bridge. The third example describes the use of the relieving construction as a permanent span of the railway bridge locates in the area where mining subsidence is over 14 m. The railway line locates on the third bridge; it is a single-track line, which is the only way to transport coal and equipment needed for operation in a large underground coal mine; interruptions of railway traffic longer than 4 working days (5 consecutive days) are unacceptable. This article has basic information about the effects of mining impacts, bridge-type steel relief constructions and a theoretical introduction enabling analysis of interactions of temporary supports and embankment in mining areas. All examples, especially the third one, contribute to development of knowledge in the field of civil engineering and transport.