Widening a Bridge called Wonboyn River bridge - Assignment Example

? Wonboyn River Bridge Wonboyn River Bridge Transportation of Post-tensioned concrete slabs 1. Transport Means The transportation of the concrete slabs requires the consideration of several factors. This is because the concrete slabs cannot pass on top of the construction at this point. There will be the risk of the bridge construction falling. The transportation has to wait for the dry season for the slabs to pass through dry ground. The components of the bridge at this point require minimum tension until the slabs are laid and until they dry up. Alternatively, the constructors can transport the slabs across the river through the old pier. The pier is strong and can support the movement of all equipment and construction materials. If they must be transported across the river, then there must be large stable boats to carry them across the flowing river. Figure 1: Under bridge support 1.1. Safety of the transport The weights of the slabs have to be controlled so that the boat cannot capsize in the water. At the same time, the strength of the slabs and the shape has to remain intact. In the decision to pass the slabs through the old pier, the construction company can use larger stronger transport means such as Lorries. However, the construction company will have to acquire a crane to enable them lift the heavy slabs during the actual laying of the slabs and the accompanying concrete. The progress of the construction cannot be interfered with by the transportation of then materials. The two processes can move on concurrently. The transportation of the slabs has to take care of other road users because the old bridge and the old pier are the only remaining alternative channels of transportation (Mecanismo, 2011). The weight of the post-tensioned slabs is a critical factor to consider when deciding on the means of transport. 1.2. Inspection After boring the piles, they are then left freely and out of the water, the site engineer inspects the progress and makes the plan for anchoring the structure. The anchors serve the function of reaching thee layer of shale on the Wonboyn River Bridge. It also provides tensile strength to support the piles of slabs and the structure above them. The anchors are made up of rock bolts. They are fixed in place before the concrete is added on the piles. 2. Fixing post-tensioned slabs to piers with dowel 2.1. Factors to consider The process of fixing the post-tensioned slabs is a heavy activity, which requires heavy equipment. The project managers must allocate the points at which the crane will be stationed such that the slabs will be able to reach both the pier and the dowel. The construction project heavily depends on the slabs because their lengths imply that they will have to hold the entire weight of the passing bodies. The project managers and the engineers have the mandate to select the regions their priority, which they have to report to the governing bodies controlling of the water resource management, electricity supply, gas supply and the provision of communications services. 2.2. Alternative routes for diversion During this construction phase, the road users have to seek alternative routes to avoid the pier and give enough space for the laying of the post tensioned slabs. This ensures that there is no risk of miscalculating the position of the pier and the dowel by the engineers. They have to be aware of the impact of the services which they offer contact to the environment and the quality that is expected of the bridge. This process can consume around one month if all conditions are favorable. Figure 2: Support Structure of the bridge The activity that is most likely to follow it is the laying of bitumen and leveling the road. This can commence about two months later to provide adequate time for the post tensioned slabs to dry up. Incidentally, there is no mechanism of testing how strong the construction is when it is complete. The only test in this context is the actual usage of the road and that essentially means the road has to be complete. The assumption in the construction is that all the slabs are able to reach the pier and the dowel at the same time. Before the road users begin to move across the bridge, the construction company has to develop an alternative route for them to avoid interfering with the construction process. 3. Constructing Abutments 3.1. Requirement Construction of abutment will require extremely strong but light materials, strong to support the entire weight of the entire bridge and light to avoid overburdening the structure of the bridge. Examples of materials that will be required to construct the abutment include bitumen, wire mesh, metal beams and concrete (Wilfredo & Rodriguez, 2007). The construction company has to ensure that the equipment and the materials are available on site. The logistics of the construction must have made the arrangements before the beginning of the bridge construction. The project co-coordinator must control the timing of this phase of the project and ensure that it does not take longer. 3.2. Structure of the abutment The first area of the development of abatement is the support sections. The bridge depends on the four available piers appearing in the structure and two abutments on the two sides of the bridge support. The other source of support of the piers across the Wonboyn River Bridge is the headstocks. This is very essential since it restricts every form of restrict motion in and out of the bridge structure. As the project involves the expansion of the Wonboyn River Bridge, the abutments, the project co-coordinators will have to make sure that the existing bridge and the former pier remains firm. This means that they will leave behind most of the abutments to hold the existing bridge with the maximum strength. Figure 3: Pier and the Abutment 3.3. Structure of the Pier The Piers of the bridge require sufficient strength. This can be introduced into the structure by setting up piles of concreted slabs and accumulating adequate strength. The construction of the pier requires larger columns. This is supposed to be able to support the bridge deck. As the constructers continue with their work on the construction of the piers, there will be need to use steel as a material for reinforcing the cages. The cages will assume a round cylindrical cross section. The cylindrical form is very essential in creating reinforcement and reducing the weight and the pressure, which it exerts on the structure. The reinforcement is set up according to the plan of the construction. The concrete can be placed in a cylindrical form, where it remains to and provide the concrete with the sufficient strength. The result is that after the removal of the formwork, there follows is a repetition of the entire process. This eventually creates the rightly minimized level of the formwork. Figure 4: Pier and the Dowel References Mecanismo, 2011. Prestress post tension anchor digital image of pre-stress anchor for post tensioned concrete. Wikimedia Commons. Wilfredo, R., & Rodriguez, H., 2007. Crane machine slewing platform, digital image of crawler type derrick crane. Wikimedia Commons. Read More