Construction procedure for prestressed concrete bridges:

Continuity can be used effectively in long span bridges. In view of their greater
rigidity, shallower members can be used con long spans without incruiting excessive
deflections, and also the resulting vibrations will be much less. Typical forms of superstructures
adopted in long span bridges and elevated expressways in Germany are shown in the fig.
The economy of continuous construction, is enhanced by the adoption of the free
cantilever method of construction, a method pioneered by M/s. Dyckerhof & Widman in
Germany. The structure is built from a pier or support across the span without temporary
supports in sections of about 3.5m long each section is cast in the cantilever gantry which is
attached to the end of the constructed portion and is pressed against the previous one by means
of prestressing tendons ending at the front of the section. Other prestressing tendons are carried
through unstressed at the a length corresponding to the static requirements of construction. At
each section, the bars ending there may be bonded by grouting the duct, so that at every stage
the construction is safe against rupture. The longest span achieved by this method of
construction is the Bendorf bridge in Germany with 208m span. The bridges constructed by this
methods are the Lubha bridge in Assam, Barak bridge and Bassein Creek bridges.
When the number of spans is large, it would be more economical to use precast
construction. The segments are recast in a separate casting yard, brought to site, launched by a
special launching truss and prestressed to form the bridge superstructure. An example of this
type of construction is shown schematically as adopted in Oleron Viaduct. The use of precast
segments is desirable also in locations with corrosive environment, as in Pamban bridge. The
design of the completed cantilevers should be checked to carry safely the loads from the
launching truss during handling of segments and during the launching the truss itself from one
span to another.
The new type of prestressed concrete bridge construction called the stress ribbon
bridge, has been developed. The basic concept of this system is a stress ribbon of prestressed
concrete, hanging in a funicular curve, anchored in the river banks. The bridge is a combination
of a suspended concave span with about 2.5m radius and the supported convex part near the
piers provided with long cantilevers in order to obtain satisfactory roadway gradients. After the
cantilever piers are completed, the tendons are placed piece by piece and stressed to ensure the
roadway grade at full load. Formwork is hung from the tendons. The stress ribbon slab is
heavily reinforced in the transversal direction, both at the top and bottom, to resist the torsion
and bending moments due to traffic loads. The concreting starts in the middle of the freely
hanging suspended concave part and continues without interruption to the supports. After the
concrete has been cured, the formwork is removed. The weight of the steel in the stress ribbon
is very heavy and it is around 350kg/m2. When soil conditions are poor for cable anchorages,
counterweight equal to about twice the horizontal thrust will be needed at the anchorages. A
wearing surface of the asphaltic concrete is provided for 50mm thickness. This type can be
competitive with steel bridges in the span range of 200 to 400m.
Many construction procedures are possible for achieving long span and continuous
girder bridges in prestressed concrete. Design would very much depend on the method of
construction.