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(HTTPS://MILLARCALLAGHAN.CO.UK/PROJECT/)  KESSOCK BRIDGE TUNED MASS
DAMPERS

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 (https:
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han.co. uk/pro
uk/pro ject/m
ject/fo 9-
rth- river-
road- almon
bridge d-
- bridge
emerg -beam-
ency- replac
repairs ement
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Kessock Bridge Tuned Mass Dampers

As a result of a series of upgrades and resurfacing works carried out on Kessock Bridge
in recent years the Tuned Mass Dampers originally installed during the bridge
construction in 1982 were seizing-up and failing to function properly and therefore
unable to effectively reduce the vibrations and resonance of the bridge.

The weight of the bridge had increased due to improvements to the crash barriers,
pedestrian barriers, access platforms and resurfacing works, resulting in a necessity to
replace the original dampers for heavier dampers to compensate for the changing
dynamics of the bridge.

Millar Callaghan carried out a full and detailed survey of the existing dampers and
supporting steelwork and eight new customised dampers were ordered from a
specialist supplier in Germany. The additional replacement steelwork was then
fabricated and galvanised, before being transported to site.

Specially designed lifting frames were constructed to remove the old dampers and
install the new dampers in position on the underside of the bridge deck.

The dampers were located, not only in the centre of the bridge but also in the middle of
the shipping lane, which caused some difficulty as any access put in place would need
to be completely removed at a day’s notice to keep the shipping lane open. The
solution was to raise a 24-meter aluminium platform from a barge anchored in the
shipping lane and secure it to the underside of the bridge. This could be winched along
the underside of the bridge to clear of the shipping lane when required.

Lifting equipment was positioned around the existing damper and the lifting frame was
raised into position to cradle the old damper. With the damper secured in the frame it
was disconnected from the bridge steelwork and lowered onto to the barge. The old
dampers were unloaded from the cradle, using a crane positioned on the barge, and
the new dampers then loaded and lifted into position, secured to the steelwork and
fully torqued into position. On completion of this process for all eight dampers a
specialist engineer tuned each damper to match the exact frequency of the bridge. A
full quality package was presented to the client on completion of the contract.

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 Start Date
March 2016

 Project Duration
12 Weeks

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