EP3181774A1

EP3181774A1 - Supporting element, a method for manufacturing thereof and a bridge comprising such a supporting element

Info

Publication number: EP3181774A1
Application number: EP15200791.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ronny SÖDERGREN
Original assignee: Stal & Rormontage | Solvesborg AB
Current assignee: Stal & Rormontage | Solvesborg AB
Priority date: 2015-12-17
Filing date: 2015-12-17
Publication date: 2017-06-21

Abstract

A supporting element (1) for a bridge, where the supporting elements (1) have a hollow structure and comprises two elongated side plate members (2a, 2b), each side plate member (2a, 2b) having an outer edge portion (12) and being provided with a pattern of apertures (8), wherein each aperture (8) included in the pattern of apertures is defined by a aperture edge portion (6) and wherein the two elongated side plate members (2a, 2b) are arranged in parallel and spaced apart with apertures (8) in the pattern of apertures in mutual alignment, an outer edge plate member (4), wherein the outer edge plate member (4) connects the outer edge portion (12) of one of the two side plate members (2a, 2b) with the outer edge portion (12) of the other side plate member (2a, 2b) and, aperture plate members (6), wherein each aperture plate member (6) connects an aperture edge portion (10) of an aperture (8) in one of the two side plate members (2a, 2b) with an aperture edge portion (10) of an aligned aperture (8) in the other side plate member (2a, 2b). The application also relates to a bridge comprising two supporting elements and a method for manufacturing of the supporting element for a bridge.

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a supporting element for a bridge, especially for a bridge used by pedestrians and cyclists. The invention also relates to a bridge comprising such supporting elements and a method for manufacturing of the supporting element.

Background of the invention

There are a lot of aspects to be considered when a bridge is designed. The construction has to carry the load of the bridge itself and also the load applied to the bridge during use. The bridge must also manage different kind of environmental factors, such as temperature variations, heavy wind, snow, rain, ice, water and so on. The bridge has also to be safe for the vehicles and persons using the bridge. A bridge that is used by pedestrians and cyclist may be placed across highways and other crossing points such as rivers, railroads, and ravines. The bridge may be prefabricated in the factory and pre-assembled to ensure proper fit of all of the elements which make up the complete bridge structure. The complete bridge may be transported to the site of the crossing point in question, and erection time and amount of field labor may be significantly minimized.
One type of a bridge suitable for pedestrians and cyclists comprises two supporting elements arranged in parallel and spaced apart. The two supporting elements may be connected by transverse beams supporting the base of a roadway. The supporting element may be a truss formed by beams or bars interconnected by means of welding. The truss may be provided with a surface covering, such as paint, in order to provide corrosion resistance.

Summary of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved supporting element for a bridge, especially for a bridge used by pedestrians and cyclists.
It is another object of the invention to provide a bridge comprising the supporting element.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a method for manufacturing of the supporting element.
These and other objects, which will become apparent in the following, are accomplished by a supporting element, a bridge comprising the supporting element and a method for manufacturing of the supporting element as defined in the accompanying independent claims.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a supporting element for a bridge, where the supporting elements has a hollow structure. The supporting element comprises two elongated side plate members, each side plate member having an outer edge portion and being provided with a pattern of apertures, wherein each aperture included in the pattern of apertures is defined by a aperture edge portion and wherein the two elongated side plate members are spaced apart with apertures in the pattern of apertures in mutual alignment, an outer edge plate member, wherein the outer edge plate member connects the outer edge portion of one of the two side plate members with the outer edge portion of the other side plate member and, aperture plate members, wherein each aperture plate member connects an aperture edge portion of an aperture in one of the two side plate members with an aperture edge portion of an aligned aperture in the other side plate member.
The two elongated side plate members may be arranged in parallel. Alternatively, the two side plate members may be arranged such that they extend along longitudinal axes which are parallel with each other, while at least one of the side plate members is angled relative a plane which may be represented by the vertical plane.
Hereby is provided a supporting element for a bridge with a hollow structure that is constructed by a few components. This supporting element may have a lower weight compared to known supporting elements for a bridge and may easily be preassembled in a factory. By the provision of a suitable pattern of apertures, a supporting element having a low weight and still able to carry the same load compared to known supporting elements may be provided. The supporting element may be less flexible when subjected to varying and cyclical loads due to few joining points.
According to an embodiment, the outer edge plate member may comprise a top plate section, said top plate section being arranged along the top side of the supporting element. Hereby a closed structure may be provided on the top side of the supporting element. The top plate section may comprise a plurality of segments.
According to another embodiment, the outer edge plate member may comprise a bottom plate section, said bottom plate section being arranged along a bottom side of the supporting element. Hereby a closed structure may be provided on the bottom side of the supporting element. The bottom plate section may comprise a plurality of segments.
According to another embodiment, the outer edge plate member may have an extension along the entire perimeter of the two side plate members. Hereby the outer edge plate member may ensure that the outer perimeter of the supporting element is closed and that a closed structure is being provided also on the lateral edges of the supporting element.
According to another embodiment, the outer edge plate member may comprise at least two sections, wherein a thickness of one of the two sections can be different from a thickness of the other section. As an example, the outer edge plate member may comprise a top plate section having a thickness being greater than the thickness of the remaining sections of the outer edge plate member. By using different thickness in different sections of the outer edge plate element, the supporting element may weigh less but be able to be subjected to the same load as known supporting elements and the structure of the supporting element may become stiffer.
According to another example embodiment, the pattern of apertures of the two side plate members may form a truss-like structure of the supporting element. Hereby the supporting element may carry the load that it is subjected to along the entire length of the element and the load may efficiently be transferred to the underlying foundation supporting the supporting element. The truss-like structure may also improve the load bearing capacity of the supporting element in view of the weight of the supporting element.
According to another embodiment, the apertures in the pattern of apertures may have rounded corners. The rounded corners may be used for providing a more smooth transfer of loads for instance when the supporting element is given a truss-like structure.
According to another embodiment, the apertures in the pattern of apertures may have a triangular form. The triangular shape of the apertures may be used to provide a truss-like structure of the supporting element. The triangular shaped apertures may be provided with rounded corners. The triangular shape of the apertures may facilitate determination of the forces the supporting element is subjected to by balance equations.
According to another embodiment, the two side plate members, the outer edge plate member and the aperture plate members may be made of stainless steel. Hereby the structure element may be less affected by environmental factors, such as weather and temperatures conditions. As an example, the two side plate members, the outer plate member and the aperture plate members may be made of duplex stainless steel. Hereby the provision of a surface protection, such as paint, may be dispensed with, and the supporting element may require a minimum of maintenance. Cost savings may be achieved due to reduced material need and/or reduced assembly time. The power consumption for transport and manufacturing may be lowered. All these aspects may contribute to a low Life Cycle Cost (LCC) of the supporting element.
According to another example embodiment, the hollow structure of the supporting element may be closed. Hereby intrusion of moist into the interior of the supporting element may be prevented.
According to a second aspect of the invention, a bridge comprising two supporting elements as described above is provided. The supporting elements may be arranged spaced apart. Each side plate member of the supporting element may comprise at least two side plate member segments that have been connected to each other along the length of the supporting element. The connection points may be arranged above and under an aperture of the pattern of apertures and may be offset relative each other in the longitudinal direction of the supporting element, thereby improving the strength of the supporting element. To avoid unnecessary repetition, reference is made to above discussion regarding advantages associated to the supporting element.
The two supporting elements may be arranged in parallel. Alternatively, the two supporting elements may be arranged such that they extend along longitudinal axes which are parallel with each other, while at least one of the supporting elements is angled relative the vertical plane.
According to another embodiment, a transparent member may be arranged in at least one of the apertures of the pattern of apertures. As an example the transparent material may be glass, for example HAMMERGLASS®. Hereby the bridge may become safer for a person crossing the bridge and the design of the bridge may become more appealing. The HAMMERGLASS® can also be recycled which contributes to low LCC of the supporting elements included in the bridge.
According to another embodiment, transverse beams may connect the two supporting elements at a bottom side thereof and a roadway base may be supported by the transverse beams..
According to a third aspect of the invention, a method for the manufacture of a supporting element for a bridge is provided. The method comprises providing two elongated side plate members, each side plate member having an outer edge portion, providing an outer edge plate member, providing aperture plate members, cutting out apertures of the pattern of apertures in each of the two side plate members, wherein each aperture included in the pattern of apertures is defined by an aperture edge portion, arranging the two elongated side plate members spaced apart with the apertures in the pattern of apertures in mutual alignment, connecting the outer edge portion of one of the two side plate members with the outer edge portion of the other side plate member by means of the outer edge plate member, and connecting an aperture edge portion of an aperture in one of the two side plate members with an aperture edge portion of an aligned aperture in the other side plate member by means of each aperture plate member. To avoid unnecessary repetition reference is made to above discussion regarding advantages associated to the supporting element.
According to another embodiment, at least a part of the aperture plate member may be provided during the step of cutting out apertures. Hereby material savings may be made, which also contribute to low LCC for the supporting element. The aperture members may be used to line the apertures in the pattern of apertures, which reinforces the structure of the supporting element and may be used to provide a closed hollow structure of the supporting element.
According to another embodiment, the steps of connecting can be performed by means of welding. If the two side plate members, the outer plate member and the aperture plate members are made of duplex stainless steel, a supporting structure having a low maintenance need may be provided. It is enough to perform static test of the weld beam at one spot along the entire supporting element.

Brief description of the drawings

The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of currently preferred embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings, where the same reference numerals will be used for similar elements.

Figure 1 is a schematic view of the supporting element according to an embodiment of the invention with a cutaway portion of one of the side plate members.
Figure 2 is a schematic view of the supporting element.
Figure 3 is a view of a bridge comprising two supporting elements according to the invention.
Figure 4 is a schematic view of the bridge as viewed from the front.

Detailed description

Figure 1 illustrates a supporting element 1 for a bridge according to an embodiment of the invention. The supporting element 1 has a hollow structure and comprises two elongated side plate members 2a, 2b, an outer edge plate member 4 and aperture plate members 6.
The two elongated side plate members 2a, 2b is provided with a pattern of apertures 8. These two side plate members 2a, 2b are arranged in parallel and spaced apart with apertures 8 in the pattern of apertures 8 arranged in mutual alignment. The side plate members may according to an alternative embodiment be arranged such that they extend along parallel longitudinal axes while being angled relative each other. One of the two side plate members may be arranged in parallel with a plane such as the vertical plane, and the other of the two side plate members may be angled relative the plane. Alternatively, both of the two side plate members may be angled relative the plane.
In the shown embodiment, the alignment of the apertures 8 has the effect of opposing pairs of apertures 8 being aligned along a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the supporting element 1. However, the two side plate members may alternatively be arranged slightly offset relative each other, for instance such that the opposing pairs of apertures is aligned along a transverse direction not being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the supporting element.
According to the illustrated example embodiment in Figures 1 and 2, the apertures 8 included in the pattern of apertures 8 may be provided with rounded corners. Alternatively, the corners may have acute angles.
As shown in the figures, the apertures may also have a triangular shape and may provide the supporting element 1 with a truss-like structure. The truss-like structure enables the supporting element to have a high load carrying capacity while also having a low weight. The rounded corners ensure a smooth transfer of forces through the joint points of the truss-like structure.
The apertures 8 may alternatively have the configuration of a parallelogram or a circle.
The person skilled in the art realizes that the apertures 8 may have several other configurations that form different kinds of structures.
As seen in Figures 1 and 2, the outer edge plate member 4 connects the outer edge portion 12 of one of the two side plate members 2a, 2b with the outer edge portion 12 of the other side plate member 2a, 2b and may comprise a top plate section 14 and a bottom plate section 16.
The outer edge plate member may extend along the entire perimeter of the two side plate members 2a, 2b, thereby ensuring that the outer perimeter of the supporting element 1 is closed.
The outer edge plate member may comprise several sections which may have different thickness. As an example, a top plate section 14 may have a thickness being greater than the thickness of the remaining sections.
Each section of the outer edge plate member 4 may comprise a plurality of joined together segments and may thus not be made of a single piece of material.
The outer edge plate member 4 may comprise a top plate section 14 and a bottom plate section 16 with the lateral edges 18 of the two side plate members 2a, 2b open.
According to the illustrated example embodiment in Figure 1, each aperture plate member 6 connects an aperture edge portion 10 of an aperture 8 in one of the two side plate members 2a, 2b with an aperture edge portion 10 of an aligned aperture 8 in the other side plate member 2a, 2b. Each of the aperture plate members 6 may comprise a plurality of joined together segments and may thus not be made of a single piece of material.
A supporting element 1 according to Figure 1 and 2, comprising two elongated side plate members (2a, 2b), an outer edge plate member (4) and aperture plate members (6), may be manufactured by a method comprising the following steps: providing two elongated side plate members 2a, 2b, each side plate member 2a, 2b having an outer edge portion 12, providing an outer edge plate member 4 and providing aperture plate members 6. These members 2a, 2b, 4, 6 may be provided by a cutting process, for example by plasma cutting. They may alternatively be provided by cutting with laser or water.
The side plate members 2a, 2b, the outer edge plate member 4 and the aperture plate members 6 may be made of a stainless steel, preferably of a ferritic-austenitic stainless steel, such as duplex stainless steel. Such a material has high strength and offer good resistance to corrosion. Elements made of such a material do not need any protective coatings, such as paint, and are recyclable. The side plate members 2a, 2b, the outer edge plate member 4 and the aperture plate members 6 may alternatively be made of non-stainless steel but elements made of such material may need protective coatings. The members 2a, 2b, 4 and 6 may also be made of weathering steel, such as COR-TEN™ steel. In a currently preferred embodiment of the invention, the side plate members 2a, 2b may have a thickness of 6 mm, the top plate section 14 of the outer edge plate member 4 may have a thickness of 10 mm, the bottom plate section 16 of the outer edge plate member 4 may have a thickness of 8 mm and the aperture plate members 6 may have a thickness of 6 mm. A person skilled in the art realizes that the members 2a, 2b, 6, 14, 16 can have other thicknesses and the above described.
The outer edge plate member 4 and its sections as well as the aperture members 6 may each comprise a plurality of segments.
The aperture plate members 6 may be provided during the step of cutting out the apertures 8 of the pattern of apertures 8 in each of the two side plate members 2a, 2b. This may be accomplished by cutting out strips of material during the step of cutting out the pattern of apertures 8, which strips of material may be used as segments which are interconnected in order to form the aperture plate members 6.
According to Figure 1 and 2, the two side plate members 2a, 2b are arranged in parallel and spaced apart with the formed apertures 8 in the pattern of apertures 8 in mutual alignment. The outer edge portion 12 of one of the two side plate members 2a, 2b is connected with the outer edge portion 12 of the outer side plate member 2a, 2b by means of the outer edge plate member 4. As seen in the figure 1, the outer edge plate member 4 comprise a top plate section 14, a bottom plate section 16 and lateral edge sections 18 in this example embodiment of the invention. The two side plate members 2a, 2b are connected by placing a top plate section 14 and a bottom plate section 16 of the outer edge plate member 4 over the side plate members 2a, 2b. The top plate section 14 and the bottom plate section 16 of the outer edge plate member 4 may also be arranged in between the side plate members 2a, 2b or comprise of one of the side plate members 2a, 2b which act as a top plate section 14 or a bottom plate section 16 and can be bend over the other side plate member 2b.
According the example embodiment in Figure 1 and 2, the outer edge plate member 4 may also comprise of lateral edge sections 20 that connect the lateral edges 18 of the two side plate members 2a, 2b. These lateral edge sections 20 may be placed over or between the lateral edges 18 of the side plate members 2a, 2b.
In Figure 1 and 2, the top plate section 14 and the lateral edge section 20 of the outer edge plate portion 4 is arranged to each other by means of a rounded corner. The bottom plate section 16 and the lateral edge section 20 of the outer edge plate member 4 are arranged perpendicular to each other.
The aperture edge portion 10 of an aperture 8 in one of the two side plate members 2a, 2b is connected with an aperture edge portion 10 of an aligned aperture 8 in the other side plate member 2a, 2b by means of aperture plate members 6. According to the example embodiment, the connection is performed by covering the aperture edge portions 10 with the strips that are formed during the cutting out of the pattern of apertures 8. The connection can be made by placing several aperture edge members 6 over or between the aperture edge portions 10.
The connections may be performed by welding. Alternatively, the connections may be performed by riveting.
A bridge 24 according to a third aspect of the invention is shown in Figure 3 and 4. The shown embodiment of the bridge 24 comprises two supporting elements 1, a plurality of transverse beams 26 and a roadway base 28.
The two supporting elements 1 are arranged in parallel and spaced apart. Alternatively, the two supporting elements may be arranged such that they extend along longitudinal axes which are parallel with each other, while at least one of the supporting elements is angled relative the vertical plane.
The bridge 24 may have a length in the range of 15 to 30 m and a width in the range of 3 to 4 m. Other dimensions may however be feasible.
In figure 3 and 4, a railing 30 has been provided on the sides of the supporting elements 1 facing each other in order to assist pedestrians that cross the bridge. The railings 30 are attached to the supporting elements 1 by fixing devices (not shown). These fixing devices may be bolts.
A transparent member can be arranged in some or each of the apertures 8 of the pattern of apertures 8. Such transparent material can be glass and it is preferred that the glass has high durability so that it may resist great mechanical stress. A suitable glass may be Hammerglass®. The transparent glass members may be connected to the apertures 8 in the pattern of apertures by means of connecting elements 32, as seen in Figures 1-3. The transparent glass members may attached by bolts screwed into these connecting elements 32 and may thereby the easy to maintain or replace if needed. As an alternative, a perforated plate or a plate of cupper may be arranged in some or each of the apertures 8 of the pattern of apertures 8.
A roadway base 28 is arranged between the supporting elements 1. The road way base 28 is supported by transverse beams 26 connected to the supporting elements. The roadway base 28 may be made of steel coated with non-slip tar made from epoxy or alternatively the road may base may be made of steel coated with asphalt.
According to the embodiment shown in figure 4, the transverse beams 26 may be formed as profiles which when connected to the supporting elements have no horizontally arranged surfaces. Hereby it may be ensured that debris, bird nests and such cannot accumulate under the bridge..
The supporting elements may be arranged vertically in parallel displacement in such way that the roadway base receives a slight inclination to avoid water retention on the roadway base.
The person skilled in the art realizes that the present invention by no means is limited to the embodiment described above. For instance the supporting elements may have another configuration and dimensions. The supporting elements may also be used for other purposes than for a bridge.

Claims

A supporting element (1) for a bridge, the supporting element (1) having a hollow structure and comprising
two elongated side plate members (2a, 2b), each side plate member (2a, 2b) having an outer edge portion (12) and being provided with a pattern of apertures (8), wherein each aperture (8) included in the pattern of apertures (8) is defined by a aperture edge portion (6) and wherein the two elongated side plate members (2a, 2b) are arranged spaced apart with apertures (8) in the pattern of apertures (8) in mutual alignment,
an outer edge plate member (4), wherein the outer edge plate member (4) connects the outer edge portion (12) of one of the two side plate members (2a, 2b) with the outer edge portion (12) of the other side plate member (2a, 2b) and,
aperture plate members (6), wherein each aperture plate member (6) connects an aperture edge portion (10) of an aperture (8) in one of the two side plate members (2a, 2b) with an aperture edge portion (10) of an aligned aperture (8) in the other side plate member (2a, 2b).
The supporting element (1) according to claim 1, wherein the outer edge plate member (4) comprises a top plate section (14), said top plate section (14) being arranged along the top side of the supporting element (1).
The supporting element (1) according to claim 1 and 2, wherein the outer edge plate member (4) comprises a bottom plate section (16), said bottom plate section (16) being arranged along a bottom side of the supporting element (1).
The supporting element (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the outer edge plate member (4) has an extension along the entire perimeter of the two side plate members (2a, 2b).
The supporting element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer edge plate member (4) comprises at least two sections, wherein a thickness of one of the two sections is different from a thickness of the other section.
The supporting element according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pattern of apertures (8) of the two side plate members (2a, 2b) forms a truss-like structure of the supporting element (1).
The supporting element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apertures (8) in the pattern of apertures (8) have rounded corners.
The supporting element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apertures (8) in the pattern of apertures (8) having a triangular form.
The supporting element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the two side plate members (2a, 2b), the outer edge plate member (4) and the aperture plate members (6) are made of stainless steel.
The supporting element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hollow structure of the supporting element (1) is closed.
A bridge (24) comprising two supporting elements (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.
The bridge (24) according to claim 11, wherein the supporting elements (1) are arranged spaced apart.
The bridge (24) according to claim 11 and 12, further comprising a transparent member arranged in at least one of the apertures (8) of the pattern of apertures (8).
The bridge (24) according to any of claims 11-13, further comprising transverse beams (26) connecting the two supporting elements (1) at a bottom side thereof and a roadway base (28) supported by the transverse beams (26).
A method for the manufacture of a supporting element (1) for a bridge, comprising:
providing two elongated side plate members (2a 2b), each side plate member (2a, 2b) having an outer edge portion (12),

providing an outer edge plate member (4),

providing aperture plate members (6),

cutting out apertures (8) of the pattern of apertures (8) in each of the two side plate members (2a, 2b), wherein each aperture (8) included in the pattern of apertures (8) is defined by an aperture edge portion (6),

arranging the two elongated side plate members (2a, 2b) spaced apart with the apertures (8) in the pattern of apertures (8) in mutual alignment,

connecting the outer edge portion (12) of one of the two side plate members (2a, 2b) with the outer edge portion (12) of the other side plate member (2a, 2b) by means of the outer edge plate member (4), and

connecting an aperture edge portion (6) of an aperture (8) in one of the two side plate members (2a, 2b) with an aperture edge portion (6) of an aligned aperture (8) in the other side plate member (2a, 2b) by means of each aperture plate member (6).
The method according to claim 15, wherein at least a part of the aperture plate member (6) are provided during the step of cutting out apertures (8).
The method according to claim 15 and 16, wherein the steps of connecting are performed by means of welding.