Bridge Launching

 

Thomas Telford (the Institution of Civil Engineers, London, UK) – ISBN: 9780727731463 (2002), p.352.

Available for purchase at www.icebookshop.com/ISBN=9780727731463 and from alternate online retailers such as Amazon.

This book illustrates the design and incremental launching construction of steel beams, prestressed composite box girders comprising concrete slabs and steel corrugated-plate webs, and conventional prestressed concrete box girders. It integrates the structural, aesthetic and economic aspects of construction techniques for building these state-of-the-art structures.

Bridge Launching is a comprehensive handbook, offering explanation of both the theoretical and technical aspects of the construction process. The launch of beam bridges, continuous decks over arches, and cable-stayed decks over temporary piers is thoroughly discussed. Design tools aimed at optimizing structural design and construction technology are developed and discussed with case studies.

The Reduced Transfer Matrix method for launch stress analysis, and design optimization tools for the nose-deck interaction, are formulated and compared with finite-element analysis and statistical data of dozens of launched bridges. Alternative approaches to deck segmentation and organization of the casting yard are analyzed and compared.

  • I am a faithful reader of Dr. Rosignoli's book Bridge Launching, a top reference for this constructive procedure – Manuel Escamilla, Associate Professor, Senior Structural Engineer, Pontem (Spain)
  • Dr. Rosignoli’s researches, publications, skill and expertise in bridge engineering are outstanding: he has spread the incremental launching construction method in Europe and is the world authority in the field – Paolo Mazzalai, Prof.Ing., Dr.Ing., Professor of Applied Engineering, Universita’ di Padova (Italy)
  • In the light of the relevance, originality, and completeness of his practical contributions and researches, I regard Marco Rosignoli not only as a worldwide-renowned expert, but in fact THE world authority, in the field of bridge launching – John Stanton, PhD, PE, Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Washington (USA)

    Casting stages, assembly and prestressing methods for bridge segments, and launching techniques are thoroughly described along with assessment of load condition design assumptions by means of field monitoring and data recording. Prestressed concrete bridges include cast-in-place and precast segmental structures, composite bridges include I- and box girders, and prestressed composite bridges include stiffened- and corrugated-plate webs. Design and technical requirements of launch equipment are discussed for the individual bridge types.

    State-of-the-art design tools are formulated for bucking analysis of steel corrugated-plate webs. Incremental launching of continuous strips of concrete slab over pre-launched steel girders is also discussed. Launch bearings, systems and control systems are discussed for the different types of construction.