3rd International Symposium on Steel Bridges

Cecm

244 pages

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Résumé

INTRODUCTION

The market for structural steel in bridges in the U.K. over the past 15 years has allowed the product to become a familiar and seemingly preferred choice of owners, designers and constructors. Reasons are numerous, not least in the types of bridges competing materials Le. concrete. Most recently pressures of a diminishing demand from the public purse together with the, not unexpected, fight back from the concrete industry paint a more diff icult picture for the coming years. It is already clear that bridges must review and consolidate the developments made during the recent buoyant period. This should identify the current state of best practice with a view to further development necessary to sustain a viable market in the future. This paper describes some observations and experiences of the author covering technical developments which together with some encouraged advances should help the product to remain competitive and, at least, maintain its leading share in a diff icult market.

MATERIALS

The use of high yield steel (S355) is well established with procurement and fabrication procedures allowing its specification without special consideration. The use of higher grade steels, as in other industries e.g. offshore, needs to be encouraged in the interests of economy. Grade S460 steel for example is known to have been used successfully in Italy and France and recent studies for LIX. projects have shown a potential for savings in steel weight of over 10% even when selectively used.

There are signs of a flexibility in the previously traditional approach of the LIK publie clients with regard to corrosion protection systems. Encouraged by the steel industry, the use of paint systems with fewer coats has proved advantageous in a number of projects such as the Second Severn Crossing (Figure 1) where the Contractor/Promoter has a vested interest in a durable solution. Fabrication contractors report significant economies arising from a reduction in the number of coats of paint specified, especially at site.