Advancements and innovations of the construction of 600-m scale concrete arch bridges

Abstract

In recent years, the successive completions of the Pingnan Third Bridge with an effective span of 560 m and the Tian’e Longtan Bridge with an effective span of 600 m in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, signify that the spanning capacity of concrete arch bridges has entered the 600-m class. This also demonstrates that concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) arch bridges and steel-reinforced concrete (SRC) arch bridges are the two most competitive bridge-type solutions for constructing super-long arch bridges. To further summarize the construction and innovation experience of the 600-m scale concrete arch bridges, this study focuses on key computational and field-measured data from the design and construction processes of the Pingnan Third Bridge and the Tian’e Longtan Bridge. Accordingly, a detailed analysis of the similarities and differences between the two subtypes of concrete arch bridges (CFST arch bridge and SRC arch bridge) were provided, and their respective applicable conditions, span growth potential, and further optimization directions were identified. The research findings can provide valuable references for scheme selection as well as detailed design and construction of future super-long arch bridges.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

600-m scale concrete arch bridges / CFST arch bridges / SRC arch bridges / computational and field-measured data / applicable conditions / span growth potential

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