Heavy Duty Steel Arch Bridges Ready-To-Install Prefab Welding

An arch bridge was extensively used by ancient Romans and is the most popular type of bridge. This bridge is in the shape of an arch, as the name suggests. The loads are carried along the arch’s curve to the support’s end because the curve’s load is not applied directly straight down.

The arch bridge carries loads primarily by compression, which exerts on the foundation both vertical and horizontal forces. Arch foundations must therefore prevent both vertical settling and horizontal sliding. This means a high amount of pressure doesn’t affect any part of the bridge. Abutments are the supports that take the load of the entire bridge. Depending on the stress and loads that the bridge should support, there will be several curves in the bridge. The arch structure has a roadway, and its span length is up to 250m.

In spite of the more complicated foundation design, the structure itself normally requires less material than a beam bridge of the same span.

Advantages of Arch Bridges

1. There are multiple design options from which to choose.

There are three common arch configurations: fixed arches, two-hinged arches, and 3-hinges arches. The first is used most often when building a reinforced concrete bridge, but it is also useful for the times when a tunnel might be necessary. It is most effective when spans are short.

The two-hinged arch is useful for longer spans, offering pinned connections at the base that provide rotation. This design gives the structure room to move during thermal contraction and expansion. As for the three-hinged arch, it provides an additional connection at the mid-span so that the structure can move in opposite directions to account for temperature changes.

2. You can span a greater distance when using the arch design for a bridge.

When there is a significant distance to span with a bridge, then the arch design is the one that engineers typically use because of the advantages of strength and flexibility that come with this option. It travels further between two support points than a straight beam does because of how the downward stresses are managed with this option. Not only does this mean you can create a longer deck, but it also means there is more horizontal strength to support heavier loads.

3. There is a higher level of resistance available with an arch bridge.

The curvature of the arch bridge design gives the deck and overall structure more strength than alternative options can provide. If something heavy were to travel across the bridge, then the weight will modify the bridge with a downward, sagging force. Because the two support columns allow for the weight to transfer along the entirety of the structure with consistency, there is less stress placed on the structure over time. That means communities have fewer problems with wear-and-tear to manage since the equal displacement ensures that the bridge handles thermal and user changes effectively.

4. it is possible to create an arch bridge out of almost any material.

When we look at the typical arch bridges that are constructed today, most of them are made from either concrete, steel, aluminum, or a combination of those materials.

5. Arches adapt to the local environment better than other designs.

The structure could withstand the natural environment better than the traditional pillars or abutments. This strength means the bridge can withstand natural disasters, such as earthquakes or flooding, with greater certainty. You can still gain the advantage of distance with the span as well with this option.

6. The arch design for a bridge can actually get stronger as it ages.

As the structure begins to go through the aging process, this bridge design begins to get stronger. That’s because the compression that gets placed on each side of it will begin to flatten out the arch somewhat, creating a U shape with less rounding. This process helps to distribute the weight of the deck better to the abutments while providing more stability in the crossing surface.

7. There are fewer distortions to worry about with an arch bridge.

One of the issues that other bridge designs face is a distortion of the support piers over time because of how the load goes across the deck. When downward force is applied to an arch, then you receive better equality in the process because of the transference effect that exists. This advantage can reduce the ongoing maintenance costs that a community faces when deciding on this design.

8. A variety of forms are possible with the arch design.

There are a variety of forms that are possible for the construction of the bridge. That means engineers have more flexibility available to them when thinking about the overall aesthetics of the structure. You can opt for a lighter, thinner design with a trussed arch if you wish.

About Us

We always use high-quality structure steel in certified grades. Prefabrication of steelwork in our highly controlled factory conditions leads to high quality work at minimum cost. The excellent quality control is achieved through a thorough testing regime at the steel mills and during the fabrication processes of cutting and drilling, assembly, welding, and protective treatment. The quality assurance that is attained should give confidence to all clients and engineers who specify steel for their bridge project.

We will use Corten Steel for most type of bridges. Corten steel is a high strength low alloy steel that in suitable environments forms an adherent protective rust ‘patina’, to inhibit further corrosion. The corrosion rate is so low that bridges fabricated from unpainted weathering steel can achieve a 120 year design life with only nominal maintenance.

Why Us
1.Highest national qualification–Grade I Professional Engineering Contractor for Steel Structure

2. Able to undertake all kinds of steel structure projects

3. Obtained EU certification, AWS Qualification
4. Experienced in overseas projects

5. 36000㎡ workshop, senior engineer team, highly trained workers to ensure on-time delivery.