Development And Construction Case of Steel Box Beams

Steel box beam, also known as steel box girder bridge, is a commonly adopted structural form for long-span bridges. Renowned for its exceptional strength and rigidity, it finds extensive application in highways, railways, and urban rail transit systems.

Below are several notable examples showcasing the versatility of steel box girder bridge:

• Britannia Railway Bridge, United Kingdom:
  In 1850, George Stephenson pioneered the concept of thin-walled closed-section bridges and constructed the world's first metal box girder bridge, the Britannia Railway Bridge. This groundbreaking project marked the dawn of a new era in bridge engineering.

• German Steel Box Girder Bridges:
  Following World War II, the reconstruction of bridges across the Rhine River saw Germany embark on the construction of several modern steel box girder bridges, surpassing the previous span record held by the Britannia Railway Bridge in the UK. This surge in construction propelled steel box girder bridges into prominence on a global scale.

• Chinese Steel Box Girder Bridges:
  China's journey with steel box girder bridges commenced relatively later, with the initial constructions emerging in the 1980s. A prime example is the Mafang Beijiang Bridge, completed in 1984, spanning 14x64 meters as a simply supported steel box girder bridge. Located in Mafang Town, Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province, it holds the distinction of being China's first self-designed and self-constructed highway-railway dual-use bridge.

• Shangnan Road Interchange, Pudong New Area, Shanghai:
  This iconic steel box girder bridge in Shanghai's Pudong New Area employs a continuous steel box girder design, ensuring high load-bearing capacity and exceptional driving comfort for vehicles.

Steel Box Girder Bridge Construction Case Studies:

• Detuo Super Major Bridge on Luding-Shimian Expressway:
  As a crucial component of the Luding-Shimian Expressway, the Detuo Super Major Bridge embarked on a groundbreaking steel box girder launching construction. The main bridge necessitates the installation of a 638-meter-long, 7,600-tonne steel box girder bridge. Faced with the absence of navigable waterways near the construction site within the Dagangshan Hydropower Station Reservoir of the Dadu River, the construction team opted for the launching method, meticulously pushing the colossal steel box girder sections weighing over a thousand tons across the Dadu River from Luding to Shimian.

• A Continuous Steel Box Girder Bridge Crossing a Highway in Hefei:

The construction of a continuous steel box girder bridge in Hefei adopted the innovative launching technique. The main bridge intersects with an existing highway at a 77-degree angle, comprising a three-span continuous equal-height steel box girder configuration of 140 meters (40m + 60m + 40m). The steel box girder bridge features a single-box, four-cell cross-section with closed box-shaped webs, boasting a height of 2.6 meters. The upper deck width measures 19.40 meters, while the lower base width is 12.56 meters. The bridge deck is constructed with an orthotropic steel plate structure, further enhancing its structural integrity and durability.

Conclusion:

The aforementioned cases serve as a testament to the extensive application and innovative construction techniques of steel box girder bridge in bridge construction. These examples not only underscore the technical superiority of steel box girder bridges but also demonstrate their adaptability in complex terrains and environments. As bridge construction technology continues to advance, steel box girder bridges will undoubtedly maintain their pivotal role on a global scale, facilitating seamless connectivity and fostering further development.