New Bridge over the Saône River (France)

The designed work is a double-curved bridge (plano-altimetric) consisting of metal caissons and a reinforced concrete slab. with prefabricated elements. The deck width is 12 m.

The metal part is made up of segments with width B = 6900 mm, height H = 2200 mm. The length of the deck is L = 272.10 m. The layout is that of a bridge with four spans (65 m, 80 m, 75 m and 50 m from the right bank to the left bank). The planimetric radius is R = 1200 m. The segments are made in such a way as to form a broken line that approximates the altimetric layout (consisting of two straight sections at the ends with a 4% slope and a central section with a radius R = 1505 m).

The overall analysis of the deck was performed by modeling the structure in stages using SOFiSTiK. The deck is modeled with “beam” elements according to the construction phases; the longitudinal stiffeners are modeled while diaphragms and transverse stiffeners welded inside the body are applied in the model as a point load. A local analysis of the segments with “plate” models was also conducted. Finally, a model was developed that analyzes the launching phases by pushing the provisional structures (forearm and rearbeak) in which the launching trajectory in correspondence with which the roller tracks are positioned was simulated, evaluating both the tensional state and the deformations, identifying the maneuvers to be foreseen in the pushing phases.