INNOVATION IN BRIDGES
Separated by the Danube River, Bulgaria and Romania are currently connected
by just one bridge. The second Danube Bridge will connect Vidin, Bulgaria, and
Calafat, Romania, upon completion in 2010. The 100 million euro project is part
of the Pan-European Transport Corridors, whose aim is to improve mobility on
the continent.
The bridge will carry both highway and railway on one deck, presenting a design
challenge. Many experts were consulted, including structural and geotechnical
as well as railway and environmental specialists. Cable technology was of
particular interest and analysis. Groupe Ingerop ultimately deployed RM Bridge
to model the structure and achieve a sophisticated design solution.
High-Point Rendel Ltd
Sheikh Zayed Bridge
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
The $230 million Sheikh Zayed Bridge will be an iconic gateway to Abu Dhabi
Island in the United Arab Emirates. Award-winning architect Zaha Hadid
conceptualized the structure to represent desert dunes, defined by continuous
sweeping asymmetric arches that pass through the center of the bridge to then
splay outside the deck and provide the entrance to the island.
The arches support two 24-meter-wide post-tensioned concrete decks, each
carrying four-lane highways. Since the irregular shape of the structure posed
engineering challenges, the extensive analysis required to investigate problems
and find design solutions was performed using RM Bridge. A 4D step-by-step
analysis of the construction sequence enabled swift resolution of any issues,
resulting in cost savings during construction.
