| JP10306408 | REINFORCING STRUCTURE OF STEEL BRIDGE PIER |
| JP2001295222 | REPLACING METHOD FOR BRIDGE GIRDER SUPPORT |
| JP2003222566 | STRUCTURAL DAMAGE ESTIMATION SYSTEM AND PROGRAM |
ANGENENT, Roland Wicher (Dissel 40, DR Huissen, NL-6852, NL)
| CLAIMS 1. Method for providing prefabricated deck plates for reinforcing a bridge with a metal bridge deck, wherein the method comprises steps for performing a determination of the form of the upper surface of the metal bridge deck. 2. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the steps for performing the determination comprise steps for deter- mining the form of the upper surface of the metal bridge deck by means of a non-invasive technique, such as by applying eddy-current measurement and/or a limited invasive technique, such as drilling bores in an existing cover layer such as asphalt. 3. Method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, comprising steps for manufacturing the prefabricated deck plates with a deck plate form based on the determination of the form of the upper surface of the metal bridge deck and a prede- termined form for a road surface. 4. Method as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, comprising steps for manufacturing moulds for forming therein the deck plates with the deck plate form. 5. Method as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, comprising steps for performing a surface treatment on the deck plate for the purpose of arranging for instance a roughness pattern. 6. Method as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein steps for obtaining the form of the deck plate comprise steps for milling of material for the moulds - 7. Method as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, comprising steps for applying high-strength concrete in the manufacture of the deck plate. 8. Method as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, comprising fibre-reinforced concrete and/or rein- forced concrete. 9. Method as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, comprising steps for arranging recesses for pipes and/or channels for injecting adhesive and/or applying a pressure difference . 10. Method as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, comprising steps for arranging fixing means for auxiliary means for adjusting operations, such as cast-in threaded bushes. 11. Method as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, comprising steps for designing a number of deck plates such that the upper side provides a substantially flat surface after placing on the bridge deck, or provides at least smooth transitions between adjacent deck plates. 12. Method as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein the deck plates are designed such that the distance from the deck plate to the bridge deck is substantially, or on average, less than 10 mm, preferably less than 5 mm. 13. Method for reinforcing a bridge with a metal bridge deck by means of deck plates obtained by means of a method as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein the method for reinforcing the bridge comprises steps for: - placing a deck plate on a part of the metal bridge deck corresponding to the form determination, - bringing about a mutual fixing between the metal bridge deck and the deck plate. 14. Method as claimed in claim 13, comprising steps for adjusting mutually adjacent deck plates in order to obtain a substantially smooth transition between the deck plates, wherein adjusting members (10) and adjusting pro- files are preferably applied and wherein, preferably after the adjustment, openings for the purpose of the adjusting means in the deck plates are filled by means of a filler. 15. Method as claimed in claim 13 or 14, comprising steps for bringing about the mutual fixing between the metal bridge deck and the deck plate by means of adhesion. 16. Method as claimed in one or more of the claims 13-15, comprising steps for applying an initial adhesive layer or sealing edge preferably along substantially a peripheral edge of the deck plates. 17. Method as claimed in claim 15 and/or 16, comprising steps for urging the adhesive between the metal bridge deck and the deck plates by means of an applied pressure difference, wherein this initial adhesive layer preferably functions as seal for the purpose of the pressure difference. 18. Method as claimed in one or more of the claims 13-17, wherein a polyurethane is applied here as adhesive, preferably an expanding polyurethane, more preferably a two-component polyurethane. 19. Method as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein a two-component epoxy resin is applied as adhesive system, preferably for the initial adhesive layer. 20. Deck plate manufactured by means of a method as claimed in one or more of the claims 1-12. 21. Reinforced bridge comprising a deck plate manufactured by means of a method as claimed in one or more of the claims 1-12 and/or reinforced by means of a method as claimed in one or more of the claims 13-19. |
The present invention relates to a method for providing a prefabricated deck plate for reinforcing a bridge comprising a metal bridge deck. The present invention also relates to a method for arranging such a deck plate on such a metal bridge deck. The present invention also relates to a deck plate manufactured by means of such a method. The present invention further relates to a rein- forced bridge which is reinforced by means of such a deck plate and/or one or more of the methods.
In recent decades a large number of bridges have been constructed on the basis of a steel structure. Also usually applied here is a steel bridge deck which is construct- ed from cross beams mounted on the steel structure, troughs mutually connecting the cross beams, and steel plates arranged thereon. These steel plates serve as foundation for a road surface, generally an asphalt layer. The steel plates tend to deform under the load of road traf- fic, the intensity of which has grown much more quickly, particularly in recent decades, than was anticipated when the bridge was constructed.
The result hereof is that, under the influence of the deformation of the steel plates, the road surface is like- wise subject to deformation, which has an adverse effect on the driving comfort of the road traffic and the safety thereof. The continuously varying load on the steel plates has also caused metal fatigue and, worse, the occurrence of cracks.
A solution for repairing this type of bridge was already known, i.e. in situ pouring of a concrete cover layer on top of the metal bridge deck. In situ pouring of a concrete cover layer in this way has a number of draw- backs. One of these drawbacks is that a relatively thick cover layer is required. A second drawback is that road traffic is obstructed for a long time. A further drawback is that obtaining a concrete cover layer with a high qual- ity of concrete is problematic. A further drawback is that it has been found to be a problem to obtain a suitable level of quality of the road surface.
A further development has been the application of prefab concrete slabs which are arranged on the bridge deck. An example hereof is described in Netherlands patent NL 1031929. A drawback of this construction is a large average distance between the bridge deck and the concrete slabs which can amount to 80 mm. This intermediate space must be filled by means of a filler. This causes the con- crete slabs, which are subject to shear forces, not to have a good fixation to the underlying bridge deck because the filler is not structurally suitable to absorb the shear forces.
In order to obviate such drawbacks the present inven- tion provides a method for providing prefabricated deck plates for reinforcing a bridge with a metal bridge deck, wherein the method comprises steps for performing a determination of the form of the upper surface of the metal bridge deck. An advantage of performing the step for de- termining the form of the upper surface of the metal bridge deck is that each deck plate can acquire a unique form and can match this form in relatively accurate manner to the existing forms of the bridge deck. A connection can hereby be obtained between the bridge deck and the deck plate by means of a structural adhesive layer. Preferably created hereby is a sandwich construction of high-strength concrete, adhesive and bridge deck which is considerably stronger than the strength of the individual parts. A fur- ther advantage is that stronger results can be achieved, even when less material is applied, be it concrete or adhesive material.
A further advantage is that with the form of the deck plates matching the form of the bridge deck a smooth transition between the deck plates is obtained with a relatively simple method of application.
In a first preferred embodiment the method for performing the determination comprises steps for determining the form of the upper surface of the metal bridge deck by means of a non-invasive technique, such as by applying eddy-current measurement and/or drilling bores in an existing cover layer such as asphalt. An advantage of such a method is that the road surface remains substantially un- damaged while the measurements are performed. This advantageously results in the road surface remaining passable for the period of time between the measurement and the deck plates being ready for placing.
The method more preferably comprises steps for manu- facturing the prefabricated deck plates with a deck plate form based on the determination of the form of the upper surface of the metal bridge deck and a predetermined form for a road surface.
In a further preferred embodiment the method compris- es steps for manufacturing moulds for forming therein the deck plates with the deck plate form. This embodiment provides advantages for the production of the deck plates by means of moulds. The moulds are preferably designed in simple manner by means of a milling process on the basis of the measurement data for determining the form of the bridge deck for each specific part of the bridge deck and the associated deck plate. In order to provide a safe road surface, the method also comprises steps for performing a surface treatment on the deck plate for the purpose of arranging for instance a roughness pattern. It is advantageous that this method can be carried out under controlled conditions so that it is possible to comply with an accurate requirement profile.
High-strength concrete is preferably applied in the manufacture of the deck plate. The amount of concrete material can hereby be limited. A more specific example of concrete material comprises fibre-reinforced concrete and/or reinforced concrete.
In a further preferred embodiment the method comprises steps for arranging recesses for pipes and/or channels for injecting adhesive and/or applying a pressure differ- ence. As will be described in great detail herein below, the result hereof is advantageous in a specific method of mounting the deck plates on the bridge deck.
The method more preferably comprises steps for arranging fixing means for auxiliary means for adjusting op- erations, such as cast-in threaded bushes. In order to use for instance adhesion for fixing the deck plates to the road surface a predetermined distance between the deck plates and the road surface is advantageous. Said adjusting operations contribute toward the realization of this distance, so that the adhesion or other type of fixing can be performed as optimally as possible.
If the deck plates are designed such that the upper side provides a substantially flat surface after placing on the bridge deck, or provides at least smooth transi- tions between adjacent deck plates, this is advantageous for the quality of the road surface.
For an optimal design the deck plates are designed in a further preferred embodiment such that the distance from the deck plate to the bridge deck is substantially, or on average, less than 10 mm, preferably less than 5 mm.
A further aspect of the present invention relates to a method for reinforcing a bridge with a metal bridge deck by means of deck plates obtained by means of a method according to one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein the method for reinforcing the bridge comprises steps for:
- placing a deck plate on a part of the metal bridge deck corresponding to the form determination,
- bringing about a mutual fixing between the metal bridge deck and the deck plate.
Such a method provides advantages as stated in the foregoing. Further advantages of such a method according to the present invention are described in greater detail below.
A further preferred embodiment comprises steps for adjusting mutually adjacent deck plates in order to obtain a substantially smooth transition between the deck plates, wherein adjusting members and adjusting profiles are pref- erably applied and wherein, preferably after the adjustment, openings for the purpose of the adjusting means in the deck plates are filled by means of a filler. The ad ¬ justment of a series of deck plates according to the present invention is relatively simple and provides the op- tion of optimizing the thickness of the adhesive layer.
The precise adjustment according to the present invention also results in the stated sandwich construction, which makes a significant contribution toward the strength of the resulting bridge structure.
The stated sandwich construction is realized in effective manner by means of further steps for bringing about the mutual fixing between the metal bridge deck and the deck plate by means of adhesion. A further preferred embodiment comprises steps for applying an initial adhesive layer or sealing edge preferably along substantially a peripheral edge of the deck plates. Such an initial adhesive layer provides the option of an additional reinforcement.
This adhesive layer further provides an advantage for a further preferred embodiment comprising steps for urging the adhesive between the metal bridge deck and the deck plates by means of an applied pressure difference, wherein this initial adhesive layer preferably functions as seal for the purpose of the pressure difference. Adhesive can hereby be drawn into the space between the adjusted plate and the bridge deck by means of a vacuum pressure or an underpressure. Such a preferred embodiment provides the advantage that the whole space becomes filled with adhe ¬ sive, and the resulting connection is optimal.
A polyurethane is preferably applied here as adhesive, preferably an expanding polyurethane, more preferably a two-component polyurethane .
A two-component epoxy resin is more preferably applied as adhesive system in the present invention, preferably for the initial adhesive layer. An epoxy resin can however also be applied for the rest of the surface between the deck plates and the bridge deck.
A further aspect of the present invention relates to a deck plate manufactured by means of a method according to the present invention.
A further aspect of the present invention relates to a reinforced bridge comprising a deck plate manufactured by means of a method according to the present invention and/or reinforced by means of a method according to the present invention. Further advantages, features and details of the present invention will be described in greater detail herein- below on the basis of one or more preferred embodiments, with reference to the accompanying figures.
Fig. 1 shows a deck plate in accordance with a first preferred embodiment according to the present invention.
Fig. 2 shows an assembly of a bridge deck with deck plates in accordance with a further preferred embodiment according to the present invention.
Fig. 3 shows a detail of a further preferred embodiment .
Fig. 4 shows a view of a further preferred embodiment with an initial adhesive layer shown thereon.
Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a further pre- ferred embodiment.
Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a further preferred embodiment.
A first preferred embodiment (Fig. 1) according to the present invention relates to a concrete element 1. This element comprises a body manufactured from high- strength concrete 2 with an upper surface 15 and a lower surface 16. Upper surface 15 is provided with a roughness pattern 17. Underside 16 has a curved form corresponding to the form of the surface of bridge deck 1 on which the concrete element will be placed. Each concrete element 14 comprises two or more adjusting holes with internal thread 12, which are described in greater detail below. Each concrete element 14 further comprises one or more recesses 4 for placing injection pipes and one or more recesses 5 for placing extraction pipes. These are also further described below .
The schematic diagram of figure 2 shows how concrete elements 14 are placed on a bridge deck 1 with trough beams 9. Concrete elements 14 are connected to bridge deck 1 with adhesive layer 3. The longitudinal axis of concrete elements 14 lies perpendicularly of the direction of traffic flow. Concrete elements 14 have dimensions such that they can span multiple lanes. A possible dimensioning is for instance 12,000 x 3,000 mm.
Figure 3 shows in cross-section how the concrete elements connect to each other in the joins perpendicularly of the direction of traffic flow. The right-hand concrete element 14b of high-strength concrete 2 is laid on adjusting members 13, which are set in the height using a laser beam. The edge of the right-hand concrete element and adjusting members 13 are provided with epoxy resin in paste form 3. The excess of epoxy resin 3 is pressed away be- tween concrete element 14b and steel deck plate 1. The left-hand concrete element is provided with adjusting profiles 10 fixed temporarily with bolts 11 in threaded bushes 12 along the edge of concrete element 14a. After curing of the epoxy resin 3 under the right-hand concrete element 14b the adjusting profiles 10 of the left-hand concrete element 14a are placed on the right-hand concrete element 14b. The upper surfaces of concrete elements 14 are hereby set to the same height. Secondly, the left-hand concrete element 14a is laid in strips of epoxy resin in paste form 3. The join between concrete elements 14 is filled with epoxy resin 3.
Figure 4 shows how the steel bridge deck 1 is provided with strips of epoxy resin in paste form 3 in a manner such that the edges and a number of strips in the surface of concrete element 14 are adhered fixedly to the steel bridge deck 1. After placing of concrete element 14 airtight chambers are in this way formed between concrete element 14 and steel bridge deck 1. Figure 5 shows in cross-section how a fluid epoxy resin 18 is introduced into chamber 20 of a concrete element 14 adhered as according to figures 3 and 4. Concrete element 14 lies at an angle of slope a. Concrete element 14 is provided on the low side with recesses 4 in which injection pipes 6 are adhered fixedly using viscous epoxy resin 3. Recesses 5, in which extraction pipes 7 are adhered fixedly with epoxy resin in paste form 3, are situ ¬ ated on the high side. The air 19 in chamber 20 is removed by connecting extraction pipe 7 to a vacuum pump. When a sufficient vacuum has been created, the fluid epoxy resin 18 is supplied via injection pipe 6, optionally under pressure. This thin-fluid epoxy resin 18 then fills chamber 20 and cures there.
The schematic diagram of figure 6 shows how a smooth progression of the driving surface can be obtained by var ¬ ying the thickness of concrete elements 14. Steel bridge deck 1 comprises a peak 21. The thickness of concrete elements 14 varies. A variation in thickness can also be ar- ranged in a concrete element (14a), wherein dimension b is greater than dimension c. Peak 21 is compensated by varying the thickness, thereby creating a smooth progression of the driving surface.
The present invention is described in the foregoing on the basis of several preferred embodiments. Different aspects of different embodiments are deemed as described in combination with each other. All combinations which can be included by a skilled person in the field on the basis of this document are deemed to be described herein. These preferred embodiments are not limitative for the scope of protection of this document. The rights sought are defined in the appended claims.