4
Observing the chart that displays the 4.1. GRAPHIC STUDY
2
ratio of the total among of steel used by m of
deck slab (Figure 3.2), the quantities of steel
used in a Bowstring solution grows
approximately in a linear way with the span,
but it is not independent of the bridge use,
since highway decks have, in general, less
steel than railway and road/railway decks with
the same span.
4. PRELIMINARY STUDY
The Preliminary Study was based on a
constructed continuous pre-stressed concrete
box-girder deck solution with variable height,
named Bridge over the Sorraia River, in
Portugal, which is part of the A13 highway.
This bridge consists in two separate decks,
with three spans (75 m + 120 m + 75 m) and a
total length of 270 m.
All the studies are planned to substitute
the main span of 120 m, with a Bowstring with
a single deck solution, extending the deck of
the side viaducts to the transition piers.
The deck’s cross section is composed
by four traffic lanes with 3.75 m each; 3.0 m
and 1.0 m for the roadsides, right and left
respectively; sidewalks 1.05 m wide; curbs;
safety guards; fascia beams and drainage
system.
Some of these elements were modified
by the 3D geometry of the hangers in order to
accomplish some regulations, and adopting
one deck instead of two, like adopting a New
Jersey traffic separator for the central
reservation.
At the beginning of the Preliminary
Study, some sketches were drawn to image
some of the possible ways to raise a Bowstring
tied-arch deck. After analyzing which ones
were viable and physically possible, there was
one which imposed itself for its innovation and
challenging design (Figure 4.1).
Figure 4.1 – Sketches for the proposed solution
Having the layout defined, it was
decided to choose a composite steel-concrete
deck, with a reinforced concrete deck slab,
crosswise steel girder attached on a central
longitudinal steel tube and lateral box-girder
beams, and a steel arch made of a tube with
high diameter and thickness, with interior
diaphragms.
4.2. PRE-DESIGN
Before performing the safety standard
verifications (Serviceability Limit State and
Ultimate Limit State), it was necessary to admit
dimensions for the deck elements (deck slab,
longitudinal and transversal beams, arch and
hangers).
The deck slab 30 cm thick was defined
according to the structural behaviour, use of
the bridge, deck materials and deck width.