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MONITORING OF STRUCTURES BETTER SAFE THAN WORRY

SPECIAL REPORT Match-cast segmental bridge piers

ABERDEEN CHANNEL BRIDGE Full-scope construction

VSLnews ISSUE ONE • 2013

Anticipating structural behaviour

VSL has built its reputation by providing services of high added-value Daniel Rigout, through the technical expertise of its strong worldwide network, backed Chairman and up by a dynamic R&D effort. From the earliest project phases until the end Chief Executive Officer of a structure’s life, VSL’s experts provide consultancy and engineering services that produce cost-effective, durable and sustainable solutions for our clients. The life of any structure is divided into three key phases: planning, construction and maintenance. VSL’s engineers are of invaluable support to designers carrying out feasibility studies at the planning stage, and, if relevant, can propose alternative solutions to achieve what is best for the project. How to build the structure becomes the critical issue once the design is optimised and here VSL’s teams take up the challenge to ensure fast-track and safe construction. Monitoring of structural behaviour may be required either during construction or later, when the structure is in service, in order to forecast maintenance works and allocate the corresponding budgets. In each case, our experts respond to the requirements by providing a monitoring system that is adapted to the needs and economic constraints. Once the inspection plan has been established, VSL can also handle any corresponding strengthening and repair works required. True turnkey and full-scope projects covering all phases of a structure’s life are at the heart of our business. business improvement

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Sustainable development at heart Through its sustainable development strategy, VSL aims to design, build and operate projects that hold the environment, local communities and employees in high regard.

Creating local benefits VSL puts its commitment to local communities into practice wher- Environment Customers and Local commitment Respect and ever they operate by helping to cre- and sustainable partners for a and community aid development of ate jobs, providing help to the most construction sustainable project employees disadvantaged and engaging with 1 - Innovating 5 - Establishing 8 - Contributing 10 - Guaranteeing local stakeholders. for sustainable construction a trusting relationship to local development the health and safety of 2 - Eco-designing with customers 9 - Getting employees high-performance projects 6 - Committing involved with local 11 - Ensuring Guaranteeing the health 3 - Ensuring to ethics and compliance communities and civil equal opportunities environment-friendly with regard to our customers society and enhancing skills and safety of employees worksites and partners 12 - Fostering 4 - Building, operating 7 - Sharing cohesion and well-being Protecting health and safety in- and maintaining our goals for sustainable in the workplace volves training and empowering to deliver controlled performance with performance our partners employees, improving ergonomics, choosing the right equipment and materials and verifying that any n response to the challenges of Ensuring environmentally actions required are effective. sustainable development, VSL friendly sites and offices Ensuring well-being at work in- I implemented a company-wide During construction, VSL seeks to volves listening to employees as policy focused on environmental, limit environmental impact as well as raising awareness among corporate and social responsibili- much as possible. The company managers about issues such as ties at all project stages. Changes also makes a point of operating its stress prevention and work-life were made in 2012, with greater own buildings sustainably, through balance. VSL’s values have proved emphasis being placed on sustain- measures such as low-energy of- to be highly effective in fostering in- able construction. The policy is now fices, eco campaigns. novation and a common purpose organised around four key themes that benefits everyone.  and 12 commitments. Uniting the project team to achieve enduring Innovating for success sustainable construction Ensuring that sustainable develop- Sustainable construction is at the ment is ingrained into our activities Major challenges in the heart of VSL’s research pro- means involving all of the project construction sector grammes, helping anticipate and stakeholders – including the cus- Construction accounts for 40% of: keep in step with change. Program- tomers, other contractors and sup- ™i]ZXdchjbei^dcd[cVijgVagZhdjgXZh! mes focus on topics such as energy- plies - in environmental and social ™ZcZg\nXdchjbei^dc! efficient buildings, biodiversity and objectives. VSL aims to guide its ™8D2Zb^hh^dch! reducing CO2 emissions and the re- customers towards the most effec- ™lVhiZ\ZcZgViZY# ® sources used. With CarbonEco , a tive solutions in terms of sustain- >i ^h ZhhZci^Va id YZkZade cZl bZi]dYh pioneering in-house software tool, it able construction and the well-be- [dg YZh^\c! egdYjXi^dc! XdchigjXi^dc VcY is possible to calculate the green- ing of users, by sharing knowledge deZgVi^dc!VcYidVYdeiVb^cYhZihZZ`^c\ house gas emissions associated with and jointly developing innovations. hjhiV^cVWaZ\gdli]# construction and test alternatives.

4 VSL news magazine No 1-2013 NEW TRAINING INITIATIVES COMMUNITY ACTIONS Specialised EXP for quality Supporting training a local for bridge orphanage erection SL Vietnam project staff or- ganised a visit to Hoa Mai new training programme he VSL Engineering eXcel- V Orphanage Centre in Danang, aimed at developing the next lence Programme (EXP) is taking with them presents and A generation of specialist bridge T aimed at senior or experi- items of stationery for the children erection engineers and supervisors enced engineers, particularly those there.  has been launched at the VSL responsible for translating designs Academy. It covers the operation and concepts into methods and re- of equipment such as launching ality. EXP took place in early June, gantries and is intended to help with a focus on technical require- Community ments and the role of engineers, including the prevention of quality commitment and safety problems.  in Switzerland

n Switzerland, VSL Switzerland’s Equipment recent community initiatives have I included support for the annual management nationwide street sale of oranges in aid of Terre des Hommes, which even countries have been as- helps thousands of children world- sessed so far in a new initia- wide. The team has also provided VSL maintain its high standards S tive that aims to ensure that PluSport - the umbrella organisa- of safety and quality, as well as equipment management every- tion for disabled sport in Switzerland its excellent productivity. Initially, where meets VSL’s best practices – with the annual funding needed to training is focusing on upcoming for safety, use and maintenance. support the activities of two disabled projects in Malaysia, Singapore and One of the main aspects of the ini- youngsters.  Thailand. The fi rst 25 engineers and tiative is expert on-site assessment supervisors are mid-way through a of current practices, together with three-month programme covering advice and training. A second fo- topics ranging from project team cus is the provision of standardised Community Day organisation to safe and efficient equipment-handling guidelines.  operation of the equipment. Training in Vietnam is led by VSL’s most experienced personnel and includes intensive group from VSL Vietnam practical site exposures.  visited a centre for disabled A people in Thanh Loc, with donations of money for food, clothes UNIVERSITY AND SCHOOL RELATIONS and healthcare. VSL Hanoi’s ‘VSL VN – Community Day’ event was A live demo by VSL India held at a centre for disadvantaged children in the Gia Lam district. SL India continually strives to improve the standards of post-tensioning Staff from Vietnam and Hong Kong in the Indian construction industry. In conjunction with the Society of Civil received many hugs in return for V Engineers and the Department of Civil Engineering of Anna University the gifts they gave to the delighted in Chennai, VSL India held a workshop on post-tensioning for prestressed children.  concrete, attended by more than 400 students and 23 delegates representing leading engineering institutes from across India. 

VSL news magazine No 1-2013 5 facts & trends

Cable-stayed bridges VSoL® First for Nigeria Timber facings > In a world first, VSL has used wood for a VSoL® retaining wall. The timber-faced structure has been built for a regional road in France. VSL carried out the design of the walls and prefabricated the panels and the galvanised steel reinforcement mesh, as well as providing on-site technical assistance. The wooden panels are formed from 180mm- diameter logs, arranged to ensure structural stability and provide an attractive, natural finish. Contact: [email protected]

> VSL stays have been installed on Nigeria’s first cable-stayed bridge. The landmark Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge has been designed and built by Julius Berger Nigeria to relieve congestion around Victoria Island. The 1,357m-long crossing includes a 635m segmen- tal bridge with a 160m main span supported by stays from a 90m- high pylon. Apart from the stays, VSL also supplied Gensui dampers. Contact: [email protected]

Ground engineering Hong Kong roll-out > Intrafor has become one of the first companies in Hong Kong to introduce a new cutting wheel system known as ‘Roller bits’ for construction of diaphragm walls in steep and hard rock. The system was adopted to meet environmental restrictions in creating a three-storey basement for Henderson Land Development. Construction work including 144m of diaphragm walls was needed for Intrafor to deliver the 15m-deep sealed basement, ready for construction of the building above. Contact: [email protected]

6 VSL news magazine No 1-2013 Saddles Polish record- breaker

> Europe’s longest extradosed cable-stayed bridge incorpo- rates the latest generation of VSL saddles. The 808m-long bridge over the Vistula in Kwidzyn is being built for client GDDKia Gdansk by a joint venture of Budimex and Ferrovial to a design by Transprojekt Gdansk. It is the first bridge in Poland with VSL Saddles.  Contact: [email protected]

Wind turbines Africa Patented Ivory Coast double VSL solution > VSL has won two contracts for post-tensioning on the Ivory Coast’s Riviera-Marcory project, > VSL Australia in conjunction which includes Abidjan’s third bridge and the with TCAA has a patent Henri Konan-Bédié Bridge. The first contract involves post-tensioning of the 1,500m-long precast twin main viaduct and a 110m long cast in situ currently pending for its twin bridge. The precast viaduct is made from 60 50m-long fully precast innovative heavy-lift application girders which are post-tensioned using 700t of strands and floated into for lifting and placing windfarm position on a barge. The second contract is for the post-tensioning of nacelle and blade units. The the Valéry Giscard d’Estaing interchange in Abidjan. Apart from post- solution involves the use of a 30t tensioning work, VSL is also involved in ground anchors and 4,300m2 of temporary cantilever frame and VSoL® walls. Contact: [email protected] strand jacking system to install the units on turbine towers.

Rebuilding Serbian infrastructure New for old > Azvi has awarded VSL the hanger cable installation work for the Žeželj Bridge over the Danube in Novi Sad, Serbia. Azvi is part of a con- sortium including Tadeii and Horta Coslada that is building the arch bridge for Serbian Railways to replace the old bridge, destroyed by bomb- The frame can be installed ing in 1999. The project is co-financed by the European Union, the using a smaller crane, than the Government of Vojvodina and the City of Novi Sad. VSL’s activities are set specialist cranes normally used to commence summer 2013 with the bridge scheduled to open 2015.  for installation of nacelle and Contact: [email protected] blades. Other advantages of the VSL Heavy lift solution include the ability to lift the rotor, hub and blade elements in one operation and a guide system that extends the acceptable wind speed range for the erection works.  Contact: [email protected]

VSL news magazine No 1-2013 7 cover story

MONITORING OF STRUCTURES Better safe than worry

The Penang Second Crossing in Malaysia is a 24km bridge comprising a cable-stayed section, with a main span of 250m, fl anked by 117.5m-long side spans, with approaches on either side by precast segmental viaducts. VSL was awarded two bridge construction subcontracts that included the supply and installation of the stay cables, the prestressing for the main bridge as well as the supply and installation of the post-tensioning for the approach bridge superstructures. The contract also included monitoring and the provision of technical assistance.

8 VSL news magazine No 1-2013 A long-term strategy for the cost-effective management of infrastructure incorporates a variety of activities such as inspection, instrumentation, observation, testing and investigation. Whether for bridges, such as the Hong Kong Zhuhai Macao Bridge, or nuclear containments, such as the LAES in Russia, VSL provides monitoring systems and technologies that allow the behaviour of structures to be assessed at all stages of their life.

VSL news magazine No 1-2013 9 cover story MONITORING OF STRUCTURES

he reasons for monitoring are mani- fold: experience has shown that each T material has distinct ageing proper- ties and may be affected by different external factors. The aggressiveness of the surrounding environment – including pollution, UV, frost, traffic, and also vandalism - can greatly affect the expected behaviour of a structure. Monitoring helps to assess the risks and allows for better plan- ning and optimisation of maintenance, which in turns reduces the overall lifetime costs. At any time, it gives an in-depth view of the structure’s condi- tion considering the actual conditions and ageing speed of the structure. Action plans are then defined and implemented accordingly. Monitoring should be defined and planned at the design stage, where the designer should determine the critical areas with regards to durability that might require special attention, and subsequently propose where and how to instrument the structure. In addition, the frequency of the readings, and what should be the threshold values from where alerts and actions should be initiated need to be determined.

Are expectations met? Monitoring of a VSoL® wall installation One of the main objectives of KHAhigV^c\Vj\ZhbZVhjgZhigZhh^cWVghl]^aZ^cXa^cdbZiZghX]ZX`kZgi^XVa^inVcYe^ZodbZiZghYZiZXiVcnlViZg^c\gZhh# monitoring is to gather and record information and knowledge about the state of the structure at any given as envisaged maintenance and time, and as such to validate the inspection works. Involving VSL at design hypothesis. This helps also this design stage allows optimisation to guarantee the structural safety of the monitoring system to fi t with Ask the right questions… by anticipating any deterioration that strategy: the client benefi ts from 8gZViZY ^c &.-)! ;I AVWdgVidg^Zh AiY# ^h or damage, and to take the right a professional service based on an Vc ^cYZeZcYZci heZX^Va^hi KHA hjWh^Y^Vgn steps to carry out the appropriate extensive experience. Information on d[[Zg^c\bjai^"Y^hX^ea^cVgnaVWdgVidgnhZgk^XZh maintenance works at the right time. the structure’s behaviour is provided idi]ZXdchigjXi^dc^cYjhign#>i^hdcZd[i]ZaZVY^c\ The strategy for structural health at the right location at the right time, XdchigjXi^dcaVWdgVidg^Zh^c=dc\@dc\VcY]VhWgdVYZcZY monitoring must also be tuned and made available in real-time ^ihhXdeZdkZgi]ZaVhiYZXVYZidegdk^YZhZgk^XZhhjX]Vh to fit with the owner’s, operator’s remotely. Further compilation and ijccZaXdchigjXi^dcbdc^idg^c\!l^cYVcY]ZVai]bdc^idg^c\ and user’s needs. Its defi nition and analysis of the data acquired allows [dgWg^Y\Zh!h]^e^beVXiYZiZXi^dcVcYhadeZbdc^idg^c\# detailing should be made at an early the maintenance work to be regularly ;IAVWdgVidg^Zh]Zaehi]ZXa^ZciidVh`i]Zg^\]ifjZhi^dchid stage of the design. It is based on the updated for the plan and carried out ZchjgZi]Vii]ZYViVegdk^YZYhj^ii]ZVcVanh^hgZfj^gZY#I]^h expected service life, which depends at the right time. Consequently, this ^hd[i]Zjibdhi^bedgiVcXZVhVh^c\aZYVnd[bdc^idg^c\ upon many parameters, including helps achieve the lowest overall risks b^\]i\ZcZgViZjeid'%<7d[YViVl]^X]ndjcZZYidZmigVXi the design details, materials used, and costs. The result is a durable i]ZgZaZkVciYZiV^ah[gdbidWZVWaZidiV`Zi]Zg^\]iYZX^h^dc# environmental aggressiveness, structure with an optimised use of material fatigue and traffi c, as well resources.

10 VSL news magazine No 1-2013 Vibratest for testing on site

Instrumentation to track changes Different tools or systems are required to monitor different parts of a structure for different purposes. When it comes to environmental and weather measurements, VSL selects appropriate sensors to suit thus allowing detection of any changes Instrumentation has been developed the task. For instance, propeller and/ in the stay-cable behaviour or damper for both spherical and pot bearings. or 3D ultrasonic anemometers can efficiency. Information can be captured directly be used for wind monitoring. Other from the bearing by using a wired parameters that may be recorded For local stress, standard strain include sunlight, rain and humidity. gauges provide accurate information. Structures in urban areas may For displacement measurement, require pollution monitoring and as for example between the moving traffi c surveys. parts at bearings and expansion joints, long extensometers based on displacement sensors or fibre- optics can provide the appropriate information.

An instrumented bearing measures the actual vertical loads that are Bearing instrumentation acting upon it. The purpose of the instrumentation is to detect connection. Alternatively, central data any changes so that the effect storage can be set up on the structure on the structural members can to gather information using wired be investigated straightaway. connections or wireless methods. P

VSL’s high precision Hc Monostrand load cell can be used to monitor the dynamic vibration of stays. It has been designed to provide information about cable force, cable vibration and the temperature in the anchorage. It has been tested over two million cycles under various loading conditions.

The Vibratest toolset allows quick and inexpensive force monitoring and stay-cable vibration testing on site. It can be used to verify periodically or continuously the stay forces, the stay’s vibration mode and the different loga- Bdc^idg^c\lVhgZfj^gZYdci]ZMGA-'%GV^alVn^c=dc\@dc\idkZg^[ni]Vii]ZI7Bldg`hlZgZcdiV[[ZXi^c\i]ZhjggdjcY^c\ rithmic decrements of the stay cables, Wj^aY^c\hVcYgdVYh#@ZneVgVbZiZghhjX]VhhZiiaZbZciVcYk^WgVi^dclZgZbdc^idgZY!l^i]VaVgbhig^\\ZgZY^[VXi^dclVhcZZYZY#

VSL news magazine No 1-2013 11 cover story MONITORING OF STRUCTURES

INTERVIEW Anticipating behaviour for vital decisions Efficient monitoring systems are invaluable both during construction and throughout the service life of civil engineering and building projects. We asked experts based in Hong Kong for their views on the market and what they look for.

What are the challenges in today’s Egd[ZhhdgN^F^c\C^ You have set up a preliminary construction industry? geotechnical profile on the CRL 820 Professor Yi Qing Ni: I]Z XdchigjXi^dc and 821 tunneling projects in Hong ^cYjhign ^h i]Z hZXdcY W^\\Zhi ^cYjhign Kong, thus providing technical Xdcig^Wji^c\ id i]Z ZXdcdbn d[ =dc\ @dc\# support and advice. How exactly? L^i]bVcnaVg\Z"hXVaZXdchigjXi^dcegd_ZXih Kevin Diemont: Djg hjeedgi ^h ^c gZaVi^dc id i]Z WZ^c\eaVccZY[dgi]ZcZmiYZXVYZ^c=dc\@dc\! \gdjcYigZVibZcigZfj^gZYWZ[dgZi]ZeVhhV\Zd[ijccZa hjhiV^cVWaZ YZkZadebZci ^h V W^\ X]VaaZc\Z Wdg^c\bVX]^cZhI7Bh#;dgi]^hejgedhZ!lZ]VkZ ^c i]Z XdchigjXi^dc ^cYjhign cdlVYVnh# XdcigVXiZY>cigV[dgidXVggndji\gdjcY^ckZhi^\Vi^dc HjhiV^cVW^a^in[dgWj^ai^c[gVhigjXijgZVcYi]Z WZXVjhZlZlVciidWZiiZgjcYZghiVcYVgZVhl]ZgZ Zck^gdcbZcigZfj^gZh^ccdkVi^dc!l]^X]^cXajYZh Professor Yi Qing Ni is Professor at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong XdcXZgchbVnVg^hZ#i]Zaehid[dgZhZZ 7ji^i^h^bedgiVciidVaadXViZZcdj\]gZhdjgXZh ^hidjhZi]ZiZX]cdad\nidkVa^YViZi]ZYZh^\c ediZci^VaegdWaZbh# [dgdeZgVi^dcVcYbV^ciZcVcXZhdi]Vii]ZgZXVc eVgVbZiZghVcYVhhjbei^dch#I]^h^hZhhZci^Va!Vh WZYZkZadebZcih^cbdc^idg^c\VcYbV^ciZcVcXZ Where does the critical path for a bVcV\ZbZciiZX]cdad\^Zh# structural health monitoring and What is the key for a structural @Zk^c9^Zbdci maintenance management system health monitoring and maintenance project start? management system? Dr Wong: >i hiVgih l^i] i]Z eaVcc^c\! Dr Wong: DcZd[i]Z`Zn[VXidgh[dghjXXZhh[ja hX]ZYja^c\! bVcV\ZbZci VcY hjeZgk^h^dc ^beaZbZciVi^dc ^h i]Z VkV^aVW^a^in d[ eZghdccZa d[ Vaa i]Z ^chigjbZciVi^dc VcY VhhdX^ViZY l^i] i]Z Veegdeg^ViZ ZYjXVi^dc! igV^c^c\ VcY ldg`h! eVgi^XjaVgan Vcn ^ciZg[VXZh l^i] ZmeZg^ZcXZ^ci]ZkVg^djh`ZniZX]cdad\^ZhgZaViZY Wg^Y\ZXdchigjXi^dc#I]ZcZmihiZehXdkZgi]Z id^chigjbZciVi^dcVcYi]Z\Vi]Zg^c\!egdXZhh^c\! Xjhidb^hVi^dc dg YZkZadebZci d[ hd[ilVgZ! VcVanh^hVcYjhZd[i]Z^c[dgbVi^dc#;^gbYZX^h^dch [daadlZYWniZhi^c\idZchjgZhnhiZbhWZ]VkZ WnidebVcV\ZbZciVcYi]ZVkV^aVW^a^ind[hj[ÄX^Zci VhgZfj^gZY# Kevin Diemont is Geotechnical Manager at Dragages [jcYhVgZVahdk^iVa# Hong Kong.

12 VSL news magazine No 1-2013 YZX^h^dc"bV`^c\VWdjibV^ciZcVcXZd[VeVgi^XjaVg YZkdiZY^ihZa[idi]ZYZkZadebZcid[Xjhidb^hZY higjXijgVaXdbedcZcicZZYhidWZWVhZYdci]Z hd[ilVgZ hnhiZbh [dg H=B YViV egdXZhh^c\! aViZhi^c[dgbVi^dcVcYVhhjbei^dch# VcVanh^h!VcYbVcV\ZbZciVhlZaaVhhigjXijgVa XdcY^i^dc ZkVajVi^dc# ;I ^h gZVYn id egdk^YZ Professor Ni: L^i]^ci]ZeVhiYZXVYZ!lZ]VkZ egd[Zhh^dcVa!XgZVi^kZVcYegdYjXi^kZhZgk^XZ^c hZZc V \gdl^c\ ^ciZgZhi ^c i]Z Veea^XVi^dc d[ i]ZH=BÄZaY# hZch^c\ iZX]cdad\n ^c Zc\^cZZg^c\ VcY ejWa^X hV[ZinÄZaYh#:mVbeaZh^cXajYZhigjXijgVa]ZVai] What is the future of structural bdc^idg^c\! cVijgVa$bVcbVYZ ]VoVgY YZiZXi^dc monitoring? 9g@V^"NjZcLdc\ VcYhZXjg^inlVgc^c\#I]ZgVe^Yegd\gZhh^chZch^c\ Kevin Diemont: > XaZVgan hZZ Vc ^cXgZVh^c\ iZX]cdad\n]VhYZkZadeZYVkVg^Zind[cdkZaYZk^XZh# Dr. Kai Yuen Wong has extensive experience in bridge YZbVcY[dgbdc^idg^c\#EZdeaZVgZiZcY^c\id >i^hXdbbdcanWZa^ZkZYWn^cYjhignVcYVXVYZb^V monitoring and retired in June 2013 from Hong Kong iV`ZaZhhg^h`0i]ZnVgZdcanegZeVgZYidiV`Z Va^`Z i]Vi VYkVcXZh ^c hZch^c\ iZX]cdad\n l^aa Highways Department. He carried out system and performance specification design of the structural XVaXjaViZYg^h`h# ]VkZVXgjX^Va^beVXidcZchjg^c\^c[gVhigjXijgZ health monitoring systems for Tsing Ma Bridge, Kap deZgVi^dcVahV[ZinVcYYjgVW^a^in# Shui Mun Bridge, Ting Kau Bridge, Shenzhen Western Corridor, Stonecutters Bridge and Hong Kong Link Road. Dr Wong: 6aaWg^Y\Zh^cZk^iVWanYZ\gVYZdcXZ i]ZnVgZXdbeaZiZVcYdeZcidigV[ÄX#GZhidg^c\dg What makes a good monitoring bV^ciV^c^c\eZg[dgbVcXZgZfj^gZhVXdbW^cVi^dc service provider? d[gZ\jaVg!egZkZci^kZVcYXdggZXi^kZbV^ciZcVcXZ# Professor Ni: Bjai^Y^hX^ea^cVgngZhZVgX]^cH=B jh^c\i]Z^c[dgbVi^dc#>ldjaYX]ddhZVbdc^idg^c\ 7jii]Zg^\]iYZX^h^dcdcVeVgi^XjaVgbV^ciZcVcXZ ]Vh^cXgZVhZYigZbZcYdjhandkZgi]ZeVhiYZXVYZ# hZgk^XZegdk^YZgWVhZYdcVXdbW^cVi^dcd[iZX]c^XVa higViZ\n ^h YZeZcYZci jedc i]Z VkV^aVW^a^in d[ I]^hgVe^YeVXZ!^cXajY^c\VYkVcXZh^chZch^c\!YViV XdbeZiZcXZ!hdjcYbVcV\ZbZcih`^aah!VigVX`" XjggZci VcY ]^hidg^XVa ^c[dgbVi^dc VWdji i]Z VXfj^h^i^dc!Xdbeji^c\!Xdbbjc^XVi^dc!VcYYViV gZXdgY ^c gZaZkVci ldg`! VcY V \ddY gZXdgY d[ higjXijgZ# I]Z igZcYh d[ i]Z higjXijgVa ]ZVai] bVcV\ZbZci!]VhbVYZ^iedhh^WaZid^beaZbZci egd[Zhh^dcVaXdcYjXi# bdc^idg^c\ bVg`Zi ^c [jijgZ h]djaY i]ZgZ[dgZ ^ccdkVi^kZH=BiZX]cdad\n[dgdWiV^c^c\dW_ZXi^kZ XgZViZ adih d[ _dW deedgijc^i^Zh WZXVjhZ ^i ^h ^cY^XZh dc higjXijgVa XdcY^i^dch VcY [dg \j^Y^c\ Does FT Laboratories XjggZciani]ZhdaZhX^Zci^ÄXbZVchd[egdk^Y^c\ bVcV\ZbZci VcY bV^ciZcVcXZ d[ ^c[gVhigjXijgZ make a difference? XdbW^cZYhjW_ZXi^kZVcYdW_ZXi^kZ^c[dgbVi^dc[dg hnhiZbh#6hVgZhjai!Vbdc^idg^c\hZgk^XZegdk^YZg Dr Wong: >cbnk^Zl!;IAVWdgVidg^ZhY^[[ZgZci^ViZh YZX^h^dc"bV`^c\dcbV^ciZcVcXZldg`h# ^hZmeZXiZYidd[[ZgVeVX`V\Zd[iZX]cdad\^Zh[dg ^ihZa[ [gdb ^ih XdbeZi^idgh l^i] ^ih djihiVcY^c\ higjXijgVa bdc^idg^c\! Xdcigda! bV^ciZcVcXZ VcY egd_ZXi bVcV\ZbZci XVeVW^a^i^Zh ^c iVh`h hjX] Professor Ni: 6bdc\ i]Z bVcn bVg`Zih bVcV\ZbZci#:fj^eeZYl^i]^ccdkVi^kZhZchdghVcY Vh hd[ilVgZ YZkZadebZci [dg higjXijgVa ]ZVai] VkV^aVWaZ! X^k^a ^c[gVhigjXijgZ hnhiZbh VgZ VYkVcXZYhd[ilVgZ!hjX]VhnhiZb^hZbedlZgZY bdc^idg^c\VcYbV^ciZcVcXZbVcV\ZbZcihnhiZbh# ZbZg\^c\idWZdcZd[i]ZaVg\ZhibVg`Zih[dg id bdc^idg Zck^gdcbZciVa Z[[ZXih! adVY^c\h VcY >ÄcY;IAVWdgVidg^ZhidWZZmigZbZanXaZkZgVcY hZch^c\ VcY ^chigjbZciVi^dc iZX]cdad\^Zh higjXijgVagZhedchZh0eZgXZ^kZhigjXijgVabZX]Vc^hb hZch^i^kZ^cÄcY^c\hdaji^dchid^hhjZhVcYi]Zn]VkZ ^c BV^caVcY 8]^cV! 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VSL news magazine No 1-2013 13 cover story MONITORING OF STRUCTURES

DeMon^h;IAVWdgVidg^Zh¼De[dgbVi^dcMon^idg^c\hd[ilVgZVeea^XVi^dc[dghigjXijgVaVcY\ZdiZX]c^XVa^chigjbZciVi^dcegd_ZXih

Wind speed measured in 3 directions expressed in m/s

Temperature of cables, concrete Relevant information is sent expressed in °C straight back to the user’s desk. The system works with any IT Humidity and measurement solution. expressed in %

Rain intensity VSL expressed in mm

° ° Sun intensity expressed in W/m2 Remote server Traffic expressed in km/h, veh./h, t, type...

Air quality expressed in CO, NOX, O3, SO2...

Cable force expressed in kN

Structural vibration acceleration expressed in g vibration modes expressed in Hz

Angular movement ° ° two directions expressed in °

OPERATING COST MAINTENANCE COST Stress and deformation MY expressed in μm/m and in mm BRIDGE The Consultant

Material ageing expressed in Cl-, mV…

Inspection and investigation paper and multimedia reports The Owner laboratory or in situ tests

Typical sensor configuration on a cable-stayed bridge

From structure vehicle accidents can then be fully to desktop analysed. If vibration occurs, specific For complex and one-off projects, modal analysis can be carried out to VSL recommends the installation of determine the cause and develop any permanent monitoring devices and remedial measures needed. the use of its DeMon system. DeMon is a combination of services to bring together all of the monitoring data I]ZA6:HcjXaZVgedlZgegd_ZXi^cGjhh^VgZfj^gZYKHAid Knowledge and – from both instrumentation and egdk^YZVcZmiZch^kZbdc^idg^c\hnhiZb[dgi]ZildgZVXidg understanding to make inspections – onto the desktop of the XdciV^cbZcih#EVgi^XjaVg^ccdkVi^dch^ci]Zegd_ZXi^cXajYZ the right decision owner and engineer, with scope for i]ZjhZd[dei^XVa7gV\\hZchdghidVaadlbZVhjgZbZci The benefits of a monitoring system immediate alerts about any potential d[XdcXgZiZYZ[dgbVi^dcVcYiZbeZgVijgZVadc\edhi" are numerous. First, and most problems. iZch^dcZYiZcYdch# importantly, their function of providing adequate safety alerts gives engineers The ultimate in monitoring systems carried out, such as checking and owners accurate and timely is FT Laboratories’ (a VSL subsidiary) the correlation between different information so that they can take the Total Structural Health monitoring sensors, evaluating the fatigue, right decision when implementing solution (see box). analysing the mode shape of vibration actions to deal with these events. and determining the wind spectra. The collection of monitoring data - A permanent monitoring system plus the analysis - allows owners generates two types of information: Information stemming from to prioritise and schedule their periodic measurements and alerts exceptional events can be used maintenance programmes. about exceptional events. The to determine issues including the periodic measurements can be used causes of vibration and the effects More applications for statistical analysis that allows of severe loads. Consequences of Management of structures is validation of design hypotheses. incidents such as high or turbulent constantly improving. New sensing Further detailed analysis can be wind, storms, seismic events and technologies and data acquisition

14 VSL news magazine No 1-2013 Total structural health monitoring

solution (TSHMS) Schematic Diagram of FT’s Total Structural Health Monitoring Solution

Total Structural Health Monitoring Solution (TSHMS) systems allow the hardware to Module 2 Module 3 develop and the information to be Data Acquisition & Data Processing & Transmission System Control System more accurate. The software also Module 5 evolves rapidly with the development Structural Health Data Module 6 of the analysis systems, allowing Management System better interpretation and extraction of Module 1 Module 4 Structural Health Inspection & Maintenance System Sensory System relevant information. The aim of VSL’s Evaluation System monitoring services is to offer tailor- made solutions based on the most Finite Element & efficient technology, the best suited Statistic Models to the final goal. Bridges, buildings, tunnels, nuclear containments, Measurement of Real Report of Monitoring Structure Information Physical Structure Results # Design Loads retaining structures and slopes # Environmental Loads # Instant Display Reports # Performance Criteria can all be monitored. Permanent # Traffic Loads # Detailed Reports # As-Built Records # Characteristics # Special Reports # Inspection & monitoring may be necessary for the # Structure responses # Rating Reports Maintenance Records whole of a structure’s life to give real- time information to help schedule System Inspection Data & Information Transmission Updating of Data & Information maintenance operations. VSL, as a leader in the technology, is constantly Complex structural health monitoring higjXijgVaeZg[dgbVcXZVcYZkVajViZVcn^YZci^ÄZY developing new sensing systems I]Z ;I IdiVa HigjXijgVa =ZVai] Bdc^idg^c\ YZ[ZXihhdi]VigZbZY^Valdg`hXVcWZeaVccZY#>iXVcWZ dedicated to its core business.  Hdaji^dc^hVXdbeaZiZeVX`V\Z[dgi]ZYZh^\cVcY ^beaZbZciZY\gVYjVaan[gdbXdchigjXi^dcdclVgYhVh ^beaZbZciVi^dccZZYZYidbZZiidYVn¼hbdc^idg^c\ i]ZhigjXijgZV\Zh!id]Zaedei^b^hZWjY\Zi^c\# gZfj^gZbZcih# >i [VX^a^iViZh i]Z eaVcc^c\ d[ I]Z idda Vahd Vaadlh deZgVidgh id XVggn dji higjXijgVa^cheZXi^dcVcYbV^ciZcVcXZ# ^cheZXi^dchd[^cY^k^YjVahigjXijgVaXdbedcZcih I]ZhnhiZb^hjhZYidXdaaZXi!egdXZhhVcYVcVanhZYViV VcYVhh^\cVgVi^c\i]Vi^h^cXajYZYl^i]i]ZgZhi [gdbi]ZWg^Y\Zdgdi]ZghigjXijgZ^cdgYZgidbdc^idg d[i]Zbdc^idg^c\YViV#

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VSL news magazine No 1-2013 15 site insights

Vietnam Early completion

> VSL Vietnam has completed its main bridge including the entire VSL SSI 2000 C system in Asia, 63 stays work on Nguyen Van Troi - Tran construction of the 127m high ranging from 37 to 109 strands were Thi Ly cable-stayed bridge four pylon, inclided at 12°, together successfully installed. The spherical months ahead of schedule. The with supply and installation bearings supplied and installed by bridge crosses the Han River in of the stay cables, dampers, VSL hold the record for the greatest the city of Da Nang, 764km south bearings and expansion joints load capacity ever known.  Contact: of Hanoi. VSL Vietnam won a major as well as a monitoring system. [email protected] subcontract for key elements of the In a first application of the

Hong Kong Expressway widening

> VSL is carrying out a wide retained earth wall work has now range of tasks for the widening been completed. One of VSL’s of the Tolo/Fanling Highway in remaining work is to jack up a Hong Kong. Construction work to bridge for bearing replacement and build two new bridges using VSL to adjust its crossfall from -2,5% to form-travellers was completed in +2,5%.  Contact: alan.wong@vsl- February and most of VSL’s post- intrafor.com tensioning, bearing and VSoL®

16 VSL news magazine No 1-2013 Taiwan Malaysia Dampers Penang’s new crossing

> The Second Penang Bridge’s approach and navigation spans, has for seismic approach has 578 spans of 55m- supplied and installed the VSL long precast segmental box girders SSI 2000 stay cable saddle system safety and a cable-stayed main bridge for the main spans, which it in- providing a 240m-wide navigation stalled strand by strand with > The installation of VSL dampers channel. VSL was involved in the winches, and the dampers.  in the Shihjia 583 residential post-tensioning works for both the Contact: [email protected] building in Kaohsiung City ensures protection against wind- and seismic-induced vibrations. In total, 84 sets of the 1.35m-high Philippines Malaysia wall-type VSL damper system have been installed in 20 of the concrete building’s 28 storeys. They are High-stakes Gantry bonanza integrated into prefabricated steel panels, which are installed directly at play in the walls during construction.  Contact: [email protected] > VSL Philippines has been carrying out post-tensioning for the Solaire project, the first casino Taiwan at the 120ha Entertainment City in Manila. Solaire’s first phase has 18,500m2 of gaming areas along with Travelling restaurants and 500 hotel rooms. The project is being constructed by DM Consunji, one of VSL PH’s main in Pingtung clients. The two companies have worked together on many projects. > Eight VSL gantries will soon > Three pairs of VSL form- Contact: [email protected] be at work on the construction of travellers have been at work on a Kuala Lumpur’s new MRT line. VSL major viaduct in Pingtung County. is supplying and operating a total The cable-stayed superstructure of seven overhead span-by-span of the Bao Li Bridge and Si Chong launching gantries and carrying out Bridge has spans of up to 135m. the post-tensioning works on the Construction was by the cast-in-situ new Sungai Buloh – Kajang Line. balanced cantilever method using Electrically isolated tendons will 100 double-box segments of width be used on the project to minimise 23.1m and depths varying from 2.8m current-induced corrosion. Special to 5m. VSL’s scope included provision grout will also be used to enhance of the form-travellers, supervision the corrosion protection. The of installation and commissioning objective of the project is to alleviate and technical consultancy during traffic congestion and decrease operation of the machines. Contact: travel times in public transport.  [email protected] Contact: [email protected]

VSL news magazine No 1-2013 17 site insights

Australia Slab upgrade

> Work is about three quarters 20,000m2 of concrete pavement to and a forklift with a 101t axle load. complete on VSL’s contract to replace existing asphalt alongside Large pours minimised the number build a slab on grade for VicTrack’s the rail lines. The 300mm-thick of joints, which will bring savings North Dynon Rail Terminal. post-tensioned slab can support in maintenance.  Contact: Chan. VSL Australia designed and built 30t containers stacked four high, [email protected] Hong Kong Australia Freeze! Piling > Intrafor has secured a ground- include drilling at depths 18m freezing hole-drilling contract for below the groundwater table in Perth the West Island Line tunnel. The and keeping on target in a high subcontract for Gammon Nishimatsu magnetic interference zone where WIL JV involves directional drilling of normal guidance systems would 25 ground-freezing holes and six not work. Intrafor has adopted the thermocouple holes, each about Paratrack PMR system to control 84m long and with a minimum the alignment. Contact: mp.chan@ diameter of 200mm. Challenges vsl-intrafor.com

> A final rail shutdown will see VSL Intrafor complete all of its work on the Perth City Link Rail Alliance project. Work by the VSL Intrafor/AVO Piling JV primarily involved a diaphragm wall and piling but the site conditions also dictated the use of techniques including mini-piles up to 600mm in diameter and 38m deep. Most of the mini-piles had to be drilled in limited-access areas, including inside Perth Station.  Contact: [email protected]

18 VSL news magazine No 1-2013 Australia NOTE PAD Tanks in hand. VSL Australia Heavy-duty slab has won the post-tensioning subcontract for two more LNG projects, taking its total > VSL has completed a slab- tainers, container trucks and fork- cryogenic work in hand to eight on-ground project at DP World’s lifts. Aggressive vehicle braking tanks. The latest projects involve West Swanson Intermodal Terminal and turning meant that the original the post-tensioning of two LNG at the Port of Melbourne. The asphalt was wearing out and be- tanks of 140,000m3 capacity contract involved the design coming rutted. The post-tensioned each on the QCLNG project and construction of 7,500m2 of solution provides a hard-wearing in Queensland and the post- 250mm-thick post-tensioned slab pavement with few joints and mini- tensioning of two LNG tanks of on ground to support equipment mum maintenance.  Contact: 160,000m3 capacity plus two LPG including straddle carriers, con- [email protected] tanks on the Ichthys project in Northern Territory. Cool water. VSL Malaysia has completed the supply and Australia Australia installation of 265t for the horizontal post-tensioning of a chilled water tank at Putrajaya in Mega Deck launch Malaysia. The 54,000m³ capacity tank stands 34m high, with an internal diameter of 45.5m and a success success wall thickness of 750mm.

> The VSL Lucas JV has built Taiwan school. Nanshan High School in New Taipei City is a 32,000 m3 water storage tank being equipped with 14 sets in Harvey, Western Australia. of VSL wall-type dampers to Constructing the 56m-diameter, protect against seismic induced 13.6m-high tank for the state vibrations. The dampers are water authority, WaterCorp, has being installed in the first seven involved extensive drilling, blasting floors of the 10-storey building, and earthworks. VSL’s precast which also has two basement post-tensioned tank system levels. Each set contains a single offered technical and commercial viscoelastic damper. advantages, including the use of a single joint-free pour for the City HQ. VSL Vietnam is carrying prestressed base slab and ring out the supply and installation beam. Using full-height precasting > The first of two bridges deck of 200t of prestressing for slabs for the 64 wall panels and 24 roof launches on the Newcastle and beams of the 35-storey Vietcombank Tower in downtown columns, which were cast off-site inner city bypass has been Ho Chi Minh City. It will become significantly reduced the amount completed. The launches are the Vietcombank Ho Chi Minh of labour and equipment required critical to the project’s success as City branch headquarters. on site and allowed to overlap they have to be completed during earthwork with casting.  Contact: fixed rail shutdowns. VSL Australia Sensitive solution. Intrafor has [email protected] was awarded the subcontract for completed a challenging grouting design engineering assistance and and ground improvement contract the provision of equipment and in Hong Kong. The TBM for MTR’s technicians for the launches. The Express Rail Link passes under 1,400t northbound carriageway was old buildings at Tai Kok Tsui, jacked over the railway using two sensitive to ground movement. SLU70 strand jacks. Launch speeds The team drilled, installed and reached 15m an hour.  Contact: grouted tubes a manchettes up [email protected] to 35m deep, enabling the TBM to complete the tunnel works ahead of programme.

VSL news magazine No 1-2013 19 site insights

UAE On the road again

> The Road & Transport Authority awarded the post-tensioning work the year. VSL is supplying and of Dubai has restarted construction for the cast-in-situ and segmental installing 2,500t of prestressing of the Trade Centre Bridge after the bridges in 2008. Completion has which includes VSL’s latest GC project was put on hold two years now passed 70% and the project Anchorage system.  Contact: ago. VSL Middle East had been should be fi nished by the end of [email protected]

Scotland Lifting the light ring > The fi nal lift has been completed for the roof of Glasgow’s new multi- purpose arena. The 12,000-seat arena is one of the main venues for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. VSL was responsible for lifting the 340t centre roof with a clear span of 46m. It initially raised the roof 1m, rotated it 6.4° and then lifted it about 40m into position. The fi nal operation in March involved lifting the 245t light ring.  Contact: [email protected]

20 VSL news magazine No 1-2013 USA Synchronised jacking UAE Hospital of the future > VSL Middle East has completed the supply and installation of post-tensioning for the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. The 364-bed state-of-the-art hospital will provide a seven-star experience for patients from the UAE and abroad. All aspects of the post-tensioning complied with requirements set by the Sixco-Samsung JV’s LEED team > VSL was awarded the contract jacking system enabled the complete as the building is targeting Gold to lift a 300m-long ramp for the operation to be monitored and certification. The green construction renovation of the I-595 flyover in controlled, with individual adjustment practices brought benefits to the Miami. The 2,360t ramp was jacked capabilities of each jack. Contact: workers’ productivity and health while up by about 0.5m in several steps. [email protected] protecting surrounding ecosystems. Use of VSL’s VSJS synchronised Contact: [email protected]

UAE Another high for Dubai

> Dubai’s tallest soil wall project Retained Earth wall system was with sections reaching 17m in has been completed by VSL Middle used for ramps on Al Khail Road. A height. Aecom managed the Road East as part of improvements to a total of 20,784m2 of VSoL® was & Transport Authority project.  major expressway. The VSoL® erected throughout the interchange, Contact: [email protected]

VSL news magazine No 1-2013 21 site insights

Poland Stringent France demands GC for LNG > VSL’s anchorages have met the stringent fatigue demands for an S-shaped cable-stayed bridge in Torun town. Strabag is main con- tractor for the 296m-long bridge, which has spans of up to 80m and is supported by 52 stays. The viaduct’s double horizontal curves create significant geometrical deviations in the stay anchorages. Designer Pont-Project specified that the stay system required fatigue resistance above the standard fib require- ments. A fatigue test demonstrated that VSL’s anchorages meet these more stringent requirements.  ©Dunkerque LNG SAS Contact: [email protected] > The Dunkerque LNG terminal that replicated the greatest tendon built by Bouygues Travaux Publics deviations on the project. VSL also marks the first French application deployed its new high-performance of the ETAG-approved VSL GC VSL Medi mixer at the project anchorage system using 12 and together with the latest version 19 strands. VSL is in charge of post- of its new DAS Data Acquisition tensioning work for three tanks System which provides real time with a total capacity of 570,000m3. information and record of all Before the commencement of stressing parameters.  Contact: grouting operations, five tendons [email protected] were fitted in a full-scale mock-up

22 VSL news magazine No 1-2013 France Bridge facelift

Russia Preparing for the Games

> VSL and SK Most are nearing completion of a cable-stayed bridge that is part of the access route for the coming Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. The 800m-long bridge has a 312m main span, > The cable-stayed Saint-Nazaire different types of working platforms suspended from two 86m-high Bridge spans the Loire River and at each span. VSL is carrying pylons. The long-span cable-stayed the entire 3.3km structure is being out 112 lifting and lowering solution was chosen to minimise renovated. The bridge has 52 piers operations to position the 150t and risk of landslides and impact on the and the project requires the 350t platforms.  Contact: marc. river landscape. Contact: julien. repeated installation of two [email protected] [email protected]

Switzerland Switzerland Hoist stinger Underground support challenges

> Doubling of the Veytaux > The output of the hydroelectric hydroelectric station’s power station at Emosson Dam is being output requires excavation of a increased and a new cavern 600m 1.5km-long connection leading into underground will house the future a cathedral-sized cavern. VSL was pumped storage plant. VSL is responsible for the supply and post- fabricating and stressing temporary tensioning of both temporary and anchors to maintain the roof during permanent anchors to support the construction of the gigantic 190m-long hoist stinger used for maintenance. by 52m-high cavern. The anchorages The project represents a real are inclined towards the top which challenge as it is located just a few poses the greatest technical metres away from the main road, challenge, while operational the railway and Lake Geneva, and challenges come from access directly underneath the Chillon restrictions and limited lifting capacity Viaduct’s 45m-high piers. Contact: when working underground.  christophe.candolfi@vsl.com Contact: Christophe.candolfi@vsl.com

VSL news magazine No 1-2013 23 site insights

Brazil Rio stadium revamp

> The Maracana Stadium was Brazil and the Rio 2016 Olympic two steps using 60 lifting points. once the world’s largest stadium and Paralympic Games. VSL has The 203,000m2 roof is one of the and had a capacity of 200,000 seats. just finished lifting the complete largest in the world and will cover It is currently being modernised cable-net roof structure in one the stadium’s 80,000 new seats.  for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in operation that was carried out in Contact: [email protected]

Mexico PT for WWTP

> The Agua Prieta wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is designed to process most of the sewage from the metropolitan area of Guadalajara. VSL Mexico has supplied and installed 300t of multi- strand post-tensioning for three digesters at the plant. The project’s target is to achieve integrated and sustainable management of the region’s wastewater to the benefi t of the lakes, streams and aquifers.  Contact: mmartinez@vslmex. com.mx

24 VSL news magazine No 1-2013 Brazil Getting ready for the World Cup Spain Mexico Giant Tallest tower

> KOI Tower in Monterrey is set to bearings become Mexico’s tallest building and one of the highest in Latin > VSL has designed and supplied America. The 267m-tall office, giant bearings for the Ricobayo hotel and residential tower is being > VSL raised the cable-net Viaduct on the high-speed railway developed by Internacional de structure of the new Fonte Nova between Madrid and Galicia. The Inversiones and built by Docsa. VSL stadium in Salvador da Bahia in an longest of the viaduct’s four spans will construct 172,750m2 of post- operation that spanned from May is 155m and the deck was built by tensioned slabs for the 61-storey to November 2012. Tensioning and the balanced cantilever method. structure. The 30-month project lifting of the cable-net roof took VSL provided both ‘PL’ free bearings will use 400t of VSL’s unbonded place in two steps, using strand and ‘PU’ unidirectional bearings. mono-strand system.  Contact: jacking units with a total pulling The large bearings, with diameters [email protected] force of 53,410kN. The old stadium up to 2.4m, are designed for a had to be replaced as it did not meet vertical design load of 100,000kN – FIFA’s standards for the 2014 World in the case of the PU bearings – in Cup.  Contact: lars.schoenlein@ addition for a horizontal design load vsl.com of 11,000kN. [email protected] NOTE PAD

Precision jacking. VSL has Spain carried out extensive jacking at Barcelona’s Sants Railway Station for the high-speed Without railway. Work included jacking up five existing piers and five new trusses in a complex series a hitch of operations using the VSL > Cosentino, a leader in natural Synchronized Jacking System stone products, is expanding its (VSJS) to achieve tolerances within tenths of a millimetre. plant in Cantoria and turned to VSL for construction of a 10m-high wall. Weight lifting. VSL has carried VSL Spain’s contract involved the out several operations relating supply and installation of 1,900m2 to the replacement of a reactor of VSoL® for the wall. Facings are vessel head at Vandellós power made from 2.25m by 1.5m concrete plant. The VSL Skidding System panels and galvanised mesh is used (VSS) was used to move the 60t as reinforcement. Erection had to be head temporarily so it could carried out quickly and VSL installed be weighed. Lifting the head an average of 65m2 each day to required the development of a meet the tight time constraints.  customised connecting device. Contact: [email protected]

VSL news magazine No 1-2013 25 special report

MATCH-CAST SEGMENTAL BRIDGE PIERS Fast, efficient, convenient

VSL’s experience in precast segmental bridge erection combined with the advantages of precast pier fabrication allows the client to save time and money while at the same time presenting quality advantages when using elements cast under factory conditions.

onstruction of bridge piers is often carried out in close proximity to live Promoting new ideas across the VSL network C rail or road infrastructure in diffi- cult weather conditions and under tight programme constraints. VSL fabricates bridge piers in the fac- tory-like environment of precasting facilities. Precast fabrication allows piers to be erected in a fraction of the time taken by conventional in-situ casting - in some cases an entire pier can be assembled in a single night shift. This provides significant programme gains as well as mini- mising the impact on the public by reducing the window needed for lane closures or rail shutdowns. There are also quality advantages with elements being cast in pro- tected factory conditions, isolated from adverse weather. Avoiding spilling The system is made up of two main components: the precast concrete elements and the post-tensioning. Precasting and post-tensioning are part of VSL’s core technology and skills. The precast bridge pier/ crosshead elements are cast in 6heVgid[i]Z=jciZg:megZhhlVnegd_ZXi^cCZlHdji]LVaZh!KHA6jhigVa^V¼hZc\^cZZg^c\ segments and ducts for the vertical iZVbYZkZadeZYVc^ccdkVi^kZcZl[dgbldg`hnhiZb[dgegZXVhiXdcXgZiZXdajbch#=^\]a^\]ih post-tensioning, which uses VSL d[i]Zegd_ZXi^cXajYZYi]ZYZeadnbZcid[i]^hcZl[dgbldg`hnhiZbVhlZaaVhi]ZjhZd[V Stressbar or multi-strand tendons, &+*b"adc\aVjcX]^c\\VcignidZgZXi,*b"adc\heVch#8dchigjXi^dc^ckdakZYegZXVhi^c\Xdajbc are embedded in the segments. VcYWg^Y\ZhZ\bZcih!ZgZXi^dcVcYedhi"iZch^dc^c\d[XdajbchVcY^chiVaaVi^dcd[eZgbVcZci The precast segments are ‘match WZVg^c\h#6[iZgi]ZVeea^XVi^dcdc=dYVg^nVi7g^Y\Z!=jciZgKVaaZnVcYHZV[dgYWg^Y\ZhlZgZi]Z cast’ to eliminate any requirement Äghiegd_ZXih^c6jhigVa^Vl]ZgZi]ZKHAbjai^"higVcYiZcYdchlZgZjhZY[dgegZhigZhh^c\d[ for a grouted ‘wet’ joint between egZXVhie^Zgh# segments. The precast segments

26 VSL news magazine No 1-2013 are erected and assembled on site and “stitched” together with VSL Introducing precast piers in Hong Kong Bars and/or strand tendons reeved through the ducts. The post- tensioning effectively connects the pier segments to the foundation below and the crossheads above to form a homogenous structure. The length of the precast pier segments is controlled by set-up in the casting yard, transport restrictions and available cranes.

Segments are delivered to site, where they can be stacked very quickly by crane on the cast-in-situ pile caps. After stressing, the piers look and behave exactly as a con- ventional pier would. Precast ele- ments are particularly advanta- KHA=dc\@dc\!id\Zi]Zgl^i]9gV\V\Zh=dc\@dc\VcY8]^cV=VgWdjg:c\^cZZg^c\!^hWj^aY^c\ geous for bridges constructed over i]Z=dc\@dc\·O]j]V^·BVXVd7g^Y\Z#I]^hhZXi^dcd[i]Z=dc\@dc\A^c`GdVY=@AG^h water, wetlands and other sensitive .#'-)`b^caZc\i]#DkZg,#*`bd[i]ZWg^Y\ZgjchdkZgi]ZhZVVcYi]ZaVhi&#,`bVWdkZi]Z areas where environmental consid- hZVlVaaVadc\8]Z`AVe@d`Hdji]GdVY# erations discourage casting on I]ZWg^Y\Z[djcYVi^dchl^aaWZWj^ail^i]WdgZYe^aZh#I]Zine^XVaXdajbchl^aaWZegZXVhiVcY site to minimise the risk of spillage. i]ZhjeZghigjXijgZl^aaVYdeiegZXVhihZ\bZciVaXdchigjXi^dcbZi]dYl^i]dkZg]ZVYWVaVcXZ Traditional bridge construction re- XVci^aZkZgZgZXi^dc\^gYZghVcYa^[i^c\[gVbZh#8dci^cjdjh^begdkZbZcid[iZX]cdad\nVcYVegdkZc quires significant access under- igVX`gZXdgY[gdbegZk^djhegd_ZXihXdck^cXZYi]ZXa^ZciidjhZVegZXVhie^Zghdaji^dc# neath the bridge for both workers and equipment. Site conditions and construction constraints can vary paction and mould alignment. For well as the installation, stressing significantly between projects. piers subjected to significant bend- and grouting of the post-tension- Some sites are in rural areas where ing, durability is improved through ing. As a consequence, costs and traffic is minimal but distance the use of the post-tensioning, environmental impact are reduced makes it expensive to transport wet which keeps the precast pier while safety is improved. The ap- concrete. Others are in congested under compression. This reduces proach is particularly suitable for urban areas where space is limited. the amount of concrete cracking. remote sites where it is difficult and Work may be taking place at high expensive to source labour, materi- elevations over water. Precasting of Precasting operations are well als and equipment. concrete elements addresses many established, repetitive and system- of these issues by allowing tasks to atic. Effective curing of precast Fast-track be performed off-site. concrete can be more closely moni- construction cycles tored and achieved in the factory A shorter construction programme Ensuring high quality than on the construction site. is achieved as the superstructure “Precast concrete elements are of- elements can be manufactured at ten more durable and of more uni- Significant reductions the same time as earthworks and form quality than their cast-in-situ Fabricating a substantial part of the foundation construction are taking counterparts because of the con- structure off site significantly place on site. Exposure to bad trolled fabrication environment and reduces the amount of on-site con- weather is significantly reduced as the strict quality control in the cast- struction labour, materials and most of the actual construction – ing yard.”, says Chan Cheong, VSL’s equipment required. The need for the precasting - is done under precast products specialist. on-site formwork and scaffolding, cover. Hence, precasting signifi- reinforcement fixing and concreting cantly reduces the risks of down- Casting off-site - generally done is eliminated. All that is needed are time due to inclement weather. A under cover – ensures more accu- the resources in labour and equip- typical precast pier can be erected rate reinforcement placement, ment (cranes and boom lifts) for the in a significantly shorter time than better concrete vibration for com- erection of the precast segments as an equivalent pier cast-in-situ.

VSL news magazine No 1-2013 27 Minimising traffic special report impact MATCH-CAST SEGMENTAL BRIDGE PIERS

Furthermore, once erected and etc.) and labour. Precasting takes a stressed, the precast piers can sup- large part of these elements away port the superstructure without from the site, thereby significantly need for further on-site concrete reducing traffic congestion and dis- curing. In-situ concrete piers would ruption. require a minimum time curing prior to being able to accept super- Enhanced safety structure loads. Last but not least, bridge construc- tion sites often require workers to Reduced traffic operate close to high-speed traffic, disruption at high elevations, over water, near Bridge construction, especially in power lines, or in other dangerous Dci]ZB-%je\gVYZegd_ZXi!i]ZIjaaV high density urban areas, often situations. Use of precast elements HnYcZn6aa^VcXZVlVgYZYidKHAVhjW" contributes to traffic delays and significantly reduces the amount of XdcigVXiidhjeeanVcYegZhigZhh congestion. This is caused by on-site time workers operate in a poten- egZXVhie^Zgh[dgi]gZZWg^Y\Zh#I]^h construction equipment (formwork, tially dangerous setting. Working Xdbeg^hZYVidiVad[,.E^ZghZ\bZcih material delivery trucks, pre-mix platforms/scaffolds can be securely VcY'-Xgdhh]ZVYjc^ih#6iKHA¼h concrete trucks, concrete pumps, attached to the precast segments I]dbVhidlcegZXVhi[VX^a^in!VheZX^ÄX as they are erected, reducing the XVhi^c\WZYlVhZhiVWa^h]ZYidXViZg[dg need to install access systems at i]Z]ZVk^ZghZ\bZcihjeid.-I!l]^X] height. VaadlZYi]ZhZ\bZcihidWZha^Ydcid Precast solution to i]ZigVchedgiZgh!l^i]djicZZY[dg minimise temporary works Lower overall costs XgVcZh#HdbZd[i]Ze^ZghVgZY^gZXian Precast concrete bridge elements VY_VXZciidVcYdci]ZbZY^Vcd[Va^kZ can bring down the overall cost of bdidglVn#L^i]i]ZegZ"XVhie^Zg the bridge once the reduction in XdchigjXi^dcbZi]dYKHAlVhVWaZid construction delays is factored in. ZgZXiZVX]e^Zg^cVh^c\aZc^\]ih]^[i In the past, these costs were often bZVc^c\h]dgiiZgbaVcZXadhjgZhdcan! omitted from estimates, which VcYYjg^c\d[["eZV`#I]Ze^ZghlZcije made the use of precast elements [Vhi!VcYi]Zb^c^bVa^beVXidci]Z appear relatively expensive. New ejWa^XigV[ÄX]ZaeZYidb^c^b^hZi]Z contracting approaches which con- ^beVXidci]ZXdbbjc^inViaVg\Z# sider the real overall costs are ex- pected to demonstrate that the use of precast concrete components is very competitive. The greater dura- bility achieved through precasting in controlled conditions can also I]Z&!(%%b"adc\=dYVg^nVi7g^Y\ZlVhWj^aiVXgdhh bring long-term maintenance sav- VhZVX]VccZaidXdccZXi6Wj9]VW^iddcZd[^ih ings. ^haVcYh#KHA!id\Zi]Zgl^i]i]ZYZh^\cZg!YZkZadeZY i]ZYZh^\cVcYbZi]dYh[dgi]ZjhZd[egZXVhi Since the Moorabool Bridge project ZaZbZcih#6aai]ZZaZbZcihlZgZegZXVhiVii]Zh^iZ in 2007, VSL has successfully com- VcY]VcYaZYWn\VcignXgVcZdgWVg\ZXgVcZ#EgZXVhi pleted many bridge, viaduct and aq- ZaZbZcih[dgi]Ze^ZghlZgZ_d^cZYjh^c\higZhhWVgh ueduct projects of varying size and edh^i^dcZYWZilZZcVY_VXZcihZ\bZcih#;^cVa complexity using the precast pier eZgbVcZciedhi"iZch^dc^c\lVhi]ZcVeea^ZY[gdbi]Z system. Precast piers have also e^Zg]ZVYYdlcidi]Ze^aZXVeh#I]ZjhZd[egZXVhi been adopted in other VSL projects h]Zaah[dgi]Ze^aZhXVehZcVWaZY[VhiegdYjXi^dc outside of Australia, such as gViZhVcYgZYjXZYi]ZVbdjcid[iZbedgVgnldg`h Hodariyat Bridge in Abu Dhabi or VcY[dgbldg`cZZYZY^ci]ZlViZg#JhZd[egZXVhi the Hong Kong – Zhuhai – Macao XdajbchVkd^YZYegdWaZbVi^Xad\^hi^XhYjg^c\ Bridge. This is yet another example XdcXgZi^c\#I]ZegZXVhihdaji^dcZa^b^cViZYi]ZcZZY of how VSL’s solution network cul- id]VcYaZ[dgbldg`^cbVg^cZXdcY^i^dchVcYZcVWaZY ture successfully transfers new V[VhieVXZd[ldg`^cVhV[ZgZck^gdcbZcil]^aZ VSL’s first precast pier project in 2007: Erection of precast pier segments at the remote technology to its clients throughout egdYjX^c\V]^\]fjVa^inÄc^h]ZYegd_ZXi# Moorabool Bridge site in Geelong, Victoria. the world. 

28 VSL news magazine No 1-2013 r&d ©Martin Pircher GEOMETRY CONTROL The art of curved alignments Short line casting method VSL is now spearheading the development of a new software to manage the geometry of precast segments during the casting process.

The challenge of building a precast work. Segments have to be sur- most suited to cell design and seg- segmental bridge lies in the fact veyed carefully before separation. ment production sequence. that the segments are manufac- Analysis of the survey data identi- tured away from where the struc- fi es any casting errors and deter- Abes GeoCon supports geometry ture will eventually stand. It is of mines if adjustments are needed in control during the casting process. utmost importance to transfer the the setting-out coordinates for the It provides setting-out coordinates bridge geometry accurately to the next units. for the segments and bulkheads casting yard. The purpose of geom- and is also used to interpret survey etry control software is two-fold: to Abes GeoDes data after casting. It verifi es data defi ne the theoretical geometry of and Abes GeoCon and checks for casting errors and the bridge and its segments, and to VSL’s fi rst involvement in geom- then calculates any corrections process survey data throughout the etry control software goes back to needed for the next segment. It sup- casting process. Seoul Expressway project in South ports any kind of survey measure- Korea in 1990. Since, VSL has part- ments like the traditional method There are two different methods of nered with software engineers to using local coordinate system per match-casting precast segments. continue to develop software to casting cell or more advanced The long-line method involves set- model bridge alignment, segmen- methods based on capturing posi- ting up a casting bed for an entire tation and control points and to tions of survey points by measuring cantilever or span. Segments re- make checks at the casting yard. their global coordinates. main stationary and formwork is Abes GeoDes and Abes GeoCon moved along, which means that packages are the latest results of Modelling along the geometry control is relatively such software development and a 3D curve straightforward as the whole span allow modelling of more complex This new software is not limited to or cantilever can be surveyed. structures. precast segmental construction. However, long-line casting is only The ability to model detailed cross- suitable for straight or regular Abes GeoDes provides tools for the sections along a 3D-curve enables it alignments. modelling of alignment, cross-sec- to defi ne, for example, the complex tion and segmentation of segmental geometry of cast-in-situ bridges, For curved alignments, segments bridge decks. Bridge segmentation long-line cells or the complex shapes are usually cast using the short- is modelled through modular groups of the beams used in monorails. line method. Each segment is cast that represent cantilevers or spans. in stationary formwork against the Each segment group consists of a VSL has already used the software previous element, which is then sequence of segments of one of four successfully on three bridge projects removed, allowing the new seg- basic types: precast, in-situ, wet- and it is currently being employed ment to take its vacated position. joint or expansion joint, hence giving to model more than 20 alignments The next segment can then be the engineer full freedom to defi ne a for a combined rail-road viaduct cast within the stationary form- segmentation and casting direction and its ramps. 

VSL news magazine No 1-2013 29 focus

HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL CORING Follow the path Clients, consultants, contractors and subcontractors all rely on early access to accurate geotechnical information in order for their projects to be a success. Intrafor uses the latest horizontal directional coring technologies to deliver ground investigations that equip project teams with the knowledge they need.

igh quality information about veloped before excavation starts. ground conditions is crucial for Intrafor is one of the world’s lead- H tunnelling schemes where condi- ing specialists in this innovative tions may vary signifi cantly along ground investigation technique. the route. It is of vital importance to know the ground conditions in The traditional approach for tun- advance and, more importantly, nelling projects relies on drilling the locations of faults, groundwa- vertical or sub-vertical holes to ter and any large fi ssures with soft depths just lower than the invert infill materials. This information level of the tunnel. Soil and rock dictates the choice of construction samples are recovered for labora- methods, which in turn defi nes the tory testing to determine engineer- programme, the resources needed ing properties and parameters for and the costs. the subsequent design works. Very Long cores supply the answers Intrafor’s steerable long-hole coring method is often, fi eld-testing is also carried attracting considerable interest among tunnel In complex ground conditions, hori- out. Use of such methods as part of designers in Hong Kong. It will be used to zontal directional coring provides a comprehensive geotechnical site gather information about the complex geology the level and quality of information investigation generates adequate of fault zones at the ends of a 5.5km-long required to build tunnels success- information for most civil engineer- drainage tunnel to be built from Tsuen Wan to Ting Kau. The advanced technology enabled fully and safely: no section is left ing projects such as foundations or core holes of 935m and 660m to be drilled. unknown and solutions can be de- slope stabilisation. However, for tunnelling projects in particular, especially those in marine environ- lengths of more than 1,100m along ments where there is only limited the routes of tunnels. information available from surveys or desk studies, other techniques Horizontal directional coring pro- may be more appropriate. vides design engineers with an ac- curate insight into the geological Continuous rock core samples conditions along a tunnel’s route. In its quest to push the limits of It is a drilling method that allows construction, Intrafor - VSL’s spe- the drill to follow a pre-determined cialist ground engineering services trajectory within a specifi ed toler- subsidiary - has progressed beyond ance envelope, while also recov- the traditional soil investigation ering rock cores. The technique I]ZXdgZhVgZgZig^ZkZYjh^c\>cigV[dg¼hY^gZXi^dcVaWVggZa# techniques carried out from ground provides a continuous rock-core I]ZYg^aagdY^hVa^\cZYjh^c\bjai^eaZYZk^Vi^dcWZVg^c\h#I]Z level. Intrafor was already a re- sample along the entire tunnel Y^VbdcYXdg^c\W^i]VhVhl^kZaVggVc\ZbZci!l]^X]ZcVWaZh nowned expert in this fi eld and has alignment, giving detailed geologi- i]ZYg^aagdYidijgcl]^aZi]ZXdgZ"XViX]ZgVcYdjiZgXVh^c\ gone on to develop sub-horizontal cal information before construc- gZbV^chiVi^dcVgn#6WdgZ]daZhjgkZnegdWZ^hjhZYidX]ZX` directional coring techniques. It tion starts. Horizontal directional i]ZVa^\cbZci^c(9# has used the technology to achieve drilling can also identify any per- directional sub-horizontal coring meable zones with high water fl ux.

30 VSL news magazine No 1-2013 Key features of horizontal directional coring

The drilled hole can be compared to a miniature ‘tunnel’ and its wa- ter flow can be used to predict the inflow during tunnel construction.

Along a curved alignment The horizontal directional coring technique has two main compo- Prepare improvement works nents: the steering device and the A new boundary control point (BCP) in the border area of North-eastern New Territories surveying instruments. It is difficult required site formation works for about to drill a long horizontal hole to the 23 hectares of land, provision of BCP buildings correct alignment without active and associated facilities, construction of directional control. about 11km long dual 2-lane truck road, Drill rig improvement works to a 4.5km long section of the Shenzhen River and the associated 6]nYgVja^XYg^aag^\egdk^YZhi]ZgZfj^gZYedlZgidYg^kZi]Z Intrafor’s objective was to develop landscaping works. The works mainly Yg^aahig^c\dkZgadc\Y^hiVcXZhVi\gZViYZei]# a system for more accurate detec- comprised land ground investigation including Wireline drilling technique tion of faults, large seepage zones trial pits, drillholes, horizontal directional coring, boulder investigation, geophysics >ci]Zl^gZa^cZhnhiZb!i]ZdjiZgijWZd[i]ZXdgZWVggZaVcYi]Z or other features so that risks and Yg^aagdYhVgZd[i]ZhVbZh^oZ#I]Z^ccZgijWZd[i]ZXdgZWVggZa project costs could be better evalu- surveys, in-situ testings, field measurement and laboratory testing of soil and rock samples. ^h^chZgiZYi]gdj\]i]ZYg^aagdYhjh^c\\gVk^inl]ZgZedhh^WaZ! ated. The use of Intrafor’s steerable core barrel enables continuous coring that follows a predeter- mined alignment to ensure correct assessment of the ground condi- Strength and abrasion assessment tions. In particular, Intrafor wanted Information about rock quality is to be able to provide continuous collected continuously along the rock coring along a sub-horizontal route. The cores can be tested for curved alignment for ground inves- mechanical and chemical properties l^i]lViZg"ejbe^c\jhZY[dg]dg^odciVadghjW"]dg^odciVa tigations on projects such as tun- including strength and abrasion, ^cXa^cZY]daZh#6[iZgZVX]XdgZgjc!i]Z^ccZgijWZVcYi]ZgdX` nels and mines. giving a better assessment of costs XdgZhVgZgZig^ZkZY#6c»dkZgh]di¼YZk^XZXViX]Zhi]Z^ccZgijWZ and production rates as well as VcYejaah^iWVX`id\gdjcYaZkZajh^c\Vl^gZa^cZ]d^hi# reducing risks. This is particularly Electronic multi-shot hole profile survey instrument important for projects such as major tunnelling works, especially when using a TBM.

Use of the steerable directional coring technique reduces the num- ber of drill holes, which in turn mi- nimises the environmental impact and potentially the number of per- I]^hegdk^YZhgZa^VWaZhjgkZnYViVidZchjgZi]ViYg^aa^c\ mits required. There is flexibility in [daadlhi]ZgZfj^gZYVa^\cbZci# terms of site access, as the abil- Steerable core barrel ity to steer enables the hole to be started at the most suitable loca- >cigV[dg ]Vh YZkZadeZY V Check tunnel alignment hiZZgVWaZXdgZWVggZahnhiZb# The Harbour Area Treatment Scheme is a tion. The holes may also be used I]ZXdgZWVggZaXVcgZXdkZg world-class sewage collection and treatment to install instrumentation, such as scheme. HATS Stage 2A upgraded the settlement sensors, along the tun- gdX`XdgZhl]^aZhiZZg^c\V preliminary treatment works around the nel alignment. ]daZVadc\VegZYZiZgb^cZY northern and southwestern shore of Hong Kong igV_ZXidgn# >i ^h l^gZa^cZ Island and constructed a deep tunnel system to deZgViZY VcY XdbW^cZh i]Z convey the untreated sewage from Hong Kong The popularity of directional coring VYkVciV\Zhd[VbjYbdidg Island to Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment in Hong Kong is a consequence of Works. Inclined direction controlled drillholes the proven results of the technol- VcY V l^gZa^cZ XdgZ WVggZa# were drilled to follow the proposed sewage ogy. Intrafor’s challenge is now to I]Z`Zn[ZVijgZ[dgVXXjgViZ tunnel alignments for the project. Soil and rock use the experience gained in Hong hiZZg^c\ ^h i]Z hnhiZb¼h samples were recovered to provide geological VY_jhiVWaZWZcihjW# and geotechnical information for the subsequent Kong to establish its path more sewage tunnel design. widely across the world. 

VSL news magazine No 1-2013 31 tech show

ABERDEEN CHANNEL BRIDGE Full-scope construction

Aberdeen Channel Bridge will form part of the new South Island Line (East) of Hong Kong’s Mass Transit Railway (MTR).

32 VSL news magazine No 1-2013 VSL was responsible for the full construction of the Aberdeen Channel Bridge for the South Island Line Mass Transit Railway (MTR) extension in Hong Kong. The local topography and the existing infrastructure tightly constrained the construction methods used. How it went, in steps…

VSL news magazine No 1-2013 33 tech show BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION

Tackle site constraints The 247m-long post-tensioned concrete box-girder bridge crosses the Aberdeen Channel link- 1 ing a section of viaduct on Hong Kong Island to a tunnel on Ap Lei Chau Island. At the southern abutment, the bridge leads straight into a tunnel; at the northern end the deck rests on a short abutment shared with the viaduct. The two intermediate piers are aligned with the existing Ap Lei Chau Bridge piers to minimise disruption in the sea channel and also for aesthetic rea- sons.

34 VSL news magazine No 1-2013 Use EIT for long-term durability The latest Hong Kong railway guidelines specify the use of airtight and 2 watertight protective barriers for the post-tensioning steel. An electrically non- conductive, corrosion-resistant, durable material has to be used. Construction of the Aberdeen Channel Bridge marks the first application of these guidelines. Complete encapsulation of the post-tensioning steel is provided by the use of VSL PT PLUS® plastic ducts in combination with electrically isolated anchorages and high-quality vacuum-assisted grouting. This combined approach is considered a major step forward in achieving reliable long-term durability for post-tensioned structures. The electrical isolation was demonstrated on selected tendons after tendon stressing and both before and after grouting.

Increase protection with ICCP 3 An impressed-current cathodic protection (ICCP) system was cho- sen for the bridge’s pile caps and piers. ICCP generates a current flow from the anode through the concrete to the steel and thus pre- vents electrochemical corrosion by forcing a current to flow in the concrete in the opposite direction to the corrosive current. In total, some 29,000m of anode ribbon have been used. The system has a design life of 120 years and, when installed during the construc- tion phase, does not significantly increase the overall costs of the structure as it is relatively easy to install.

VSL news magazine No 1-2013 35 tech show BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION

Gill - WindObserver Ultrasonic Anemometer

ABERDEEN CHANNEL BRIDGE CONTROL ROOM

Fit a ship impact detection and wind speed monitoring system 4 VSL and FT Laboratories designed, supplied and installed a ship impact detection system. This system consists of six vibration sensors, which measure the displacement of the bridge and tracks in the event of a collision, and six day/night, high-resolution fi xed colour cameras with IR illuminators. These cameras will be mounted at both piers of the bridge, pointing outwards into the navigation channel. The system can capture and record digitally information about any incidents such as collisions. An ultrasonic anemometer will be also supplied; it will be mounted in the centre of the bridge to determine wind speeds. Cables for monitoring and power supply systems have been installed in the piers, with junction boxes fi tted into the hollow box-girder deck at the pier locations. Data from both the ship impact detection system and the wind speed monitoring will be collected and transmitted back to the control depot by just three fi bre-optic cables.

36 VSL news magazine No 1-2013 Design, build and operate the form-traveller Aberdeen Channel Bridge has three continuous spans, of lengths 58.5m, 115m 5 and 73m, with the two intermediate piers aligned with those of the existing Ap Lei Chau Bridge. The new bridge provides a 70m-wide navigation channel and the main span is 14m above sea level. Two MTR tracks cross the 10.8m-wide bridge deck. A single-cell box section was selected as the deck is relatively narrow. In total, 54 segments were cast in-situ, with 51 of them erected by a modular form- traveller and the remaining three cast in-situ on falsework. The post-tensioned concrete box option was the most economical solution but was also the preferred choice as it harmonises with the existing bridge, which has a similar form.

VSL news magazine No 1-2013 37 tech show BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION

Install bearings and movement joints In addition, VSL supplies and installs 6 52 pot and 67 elastomeric bearings for the entire South Island Line 903 project, which includes segmental viaduct sections, station, depot and footbridge construction as well as waterway reconstruction. VSL also provides 250m of movement joints.

Achieve high-quality while protecting the environment Aberdeen Channel Bridge is in a heavily populated area and full-enclosure noise 7 barriers are to be provided to reduce the local impact. Building the bridge over the operating Aberdeen Channel made it essential to avoid disrupting the marine traffic below. A custom-made protective tray with a double-layer mesh was attached to the form-traveller’s bottom form to catch falling materials and prevent any run-off of grey water. Achieving a high-quality concrete surface finish on the bridge was an important requirement and so a tailor made man-cage was designed for the finishing work on the main span surface over water, while a cherry-picker was used for the back span surface over land.

38 VSL news magazine No 1-2013 VSL LOCATIONS

Headquarters VSL International Ltd. Middle East Sägestrasse 76 / CH-3098 Köniz SULTANATE OF OMAN MALAYSIA Switzerland VSL Muscat LLC VSL Engineers (M) Sdn. Bhd. MUSCAT KUALA LUMPUR Phone: +41 58 456 30 00 Phone: +971 4 885 7225 Phone: +603 7981 47 42 [email protected] Africa / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES PHILIPPINES VSL Middle East LLC VSL Philippines Inc. EGYPT PORTUGAL MANDALUYONG CITY VSL Sistemas Portugal SA DUBAI, UAE VSL Egypt Phone: +971 4 885 7225 Phone: +632 722 1703 CAIRO PAÇO DE ARCOS Americas/ Phone: +20 2 344 19 00 Phone: +351 21 445 83 10 DOHA, QATAR SINGAPORE Delegação Norte Phone: +974 44 052 444 VSL Singapore Pte. Ltd. SOUTH AFRICA ARGENTINA VILA NOVA DE GAIA SINGAPORE VSL Construction Solutions (Pty) Ltd Phone: + 351 22 371 18 80 Phone: +65 6559 12 22 VSL Sistemas Especiales de JOHANNESBURG Construcción Argentina SA Phone: +27 11 878 6820 Asia / TAIWAN BUENOS AIRES SPAIN VSL Construction Systems SA VSL Taiwan Ltd. Phone: +54 11 5272 87 52 TUNISIA BRUNEI TAIPEI VSL Tunisia BARCELONA Phone: +34 93 289 23 30 VSL Systems (B) Sdn. Bhd. Phone: +886 2 2759 6819 BOLIVIA TUNIS BRUNEI DARUSSALAM Postensados de Bolivia Phone: +216 70 72 84 73 SWEDEN Phone: +673 2 380 153 / 381 827 THAILAND SAN MIGUEL, LA PAZ Internordisk Spännarmering AB VSL (Thailand) Co. Ltd. Phone: +591 2 27 70 338 VÄSTERHANINGE CHINA PRC BANGKOK Phone: +46 10 448 11 42 VSL Engineering Corp., Ltd. Phone: +66 2 679 76 15 - 19 BRAZIL Europe/ (China) VSL Brasil Construção e SWITZERLAND HEFEI VIETNAM Recuperação Ltda AUSTRIA VSL (Switzerland) Ltd. Phone: +86 551 382 29 18 VSL Vietnam Ltd. Grund-Pfahl- und Sonderbau SÃO PAULO SUBINGEN HANOI GmbH Phone: +55 113 521 7153/4 Phone: +41 58 456 30 30 HONG KONG Phone: +84 4 3976 5088 HIMBERG VSL Hong Kong Ltd. CANADA Phone: +43 2235 87 777 SAINT LEGIER CHAI WAN HO CHI MINH CITY CTT Stronghold Canada Phone: +41 58 456 30 00 Phone: +852 2590 22 88 Phone: +84 8 810 6817 TORONTO CZECH REPUBLIC Phone: +1 416 477 1042 VSL Systemy (CZ) Sro TURKEY INDIA PRAGUE Mega Yapi Construction & VSL India Private Ltd. Australia CHILE Phone: +420 2 51 09 16 80 Trade Co. Ltd CHENNAI / VSL Sistemas Especiales de ANKARA Phone: +91 44 4225 11 11 Construcción S.A. FRANCE Phone: +90 312 490 90 66 VSL Australia Pty. Ltd. SANTIAGO VSL France S.A. (Bouygues TPRF) INDONESIA NEW SOUTH WALES Phone: +56 2 571 67 00 LABÈGE UNITED KINGDOM PT VSL Indonesia Phone: +61 2 9484 5944 Phone: +33 5 33 65 96 59 VSL System (UK) Ltd. JAKARTA QUEENSLAND COLOMBIA LUTON Phone: +62 21 570 07 86 GERMANY Phone: +44 148 040 4401 Phone: +61 7 3265 64 00 Sistemas Especiales de VSL Systems GmbH Construcción S.A.S JAPAN BERLIN VICTORIA BOGOTA VSL Japan Corporation Phone: +41 58 456 30 30 Phone: +61 3 979 503 66 Phone: +57 1 226 6230 TOKYO Phone: +81 3 3346 8913 SOUTH AUSTRALIA NETHERLANDS Phone: +61 8 8252 1900 MEXICO Heijmans Beton-en Waterbouw B.V. KOREA VSL Corporation Mexico S.A de C.V ROSMALEN VSL Korea Co. Ltd. TASMANIA MEXICO Phone: +31 73 543 66 02 SEOUL Phone: +61 3 6249 3044 Phone: +52 55 55 11 20 36 Phone: +82 2 553 8200 NORWAY PERTH PERU Spennarmering Norge AS Phone: +61 8 9419 1119 Sistemas Especiales de Construcción RUD Peru S.A. Phone: +47 98 21 02 31 LIMA Phone: +51 1 349 38 38 POLAND VSL Polska Sp. Zo. o VSL Peru WARSZAWA LIMA Phone: +48 22849 22 09 Phone: +51 1 713 98 32 VSL Infrastructure Protection Ltd. Intrafor Hong Kong Ltd. FT Laboratories Ltd. LONDON CHAI WAN, HONG KONG PING CHE, HONG KONG UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Phone: +44 207 803 3614 Phone: +852 2836 31 12 Phone: +852 2758 48 61 VStructural LLC SINGAPORE DUBAI, UAE BALTIMORE, MD Phone: +65 65 59 12 22 Phone: +971 4 885 7225 Phone: +1 410 850 7000 VSL Offshore Pte Ltd. SYDNEY SINGAPORE Phone: +61 2 94 84 5944 Phone: +65 65 59 13 05

Copyright 06/2013, VSL International Ltd. Printed in France – patented.

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