Montreal-based MAADI Group recently designed a 151-foot-long, 6½-foot-wide pedestrian work bridge to connect platforms in the West Philippine Sea. Using high-strength aluminum for the bridge’s material, MAADI designed the bridge with lateral movement capability that could withstand deep-ocean movement and wind gusts up to 200 km/hr (124 mph).
MAADI’s President/CEO, Alexandre de la Chevrotière, says that water and wind movements can cause the platforms to shift by as much as one inch, so the bridge was engineered to account for movement up to one meter. A trolley system at one end of the bridge allows slight back-and-forth movements of the bridge between the platforms.
The span was built in four sections. Its abutments are unique, according to de la Chevrotière, in that their pin connections rotate on two axes. There’s also a pin connection at the top of the trolley, which allows the bridge to move in several different directions by as much as three degrees to account for ocean movements, he says.
The 13-ton bridge was built to accommodate up to 80 workers on deck. (The accompanying image shows 8.4 tons of water being used to test the span’s load capacity.) The bridge’s camber was designed to reduce the deflection caused by dead and live loads.
“Aluminum is the material of the future,” says de la Chevrotière. “It doesn’t rust and it’s maintenance free.”
Read about more innovations from BD+C's 2014 Great Solutions Report.
Related Stories
Security and Life Safety | Jul 5, 2022
What AEC firms should look for in a cybersecurity partner
When looking for expert partners in cybersecurity, AEC firms will find quite a lot of companies claiming to be at the forefront of modern threats. Here are five key points to look for when choosing a cybersecurity firm.
Performing Arts Centers | Jul 5, 2022
Tour the new Patricia Reser Center for the Arts in Oregon
This month, the community of Beaverton, Oregon, welcomed a new haven for artistic expression with the opening of Patricia Reser Center for the Arts (The Reser).
Building Team | Jul 5, 2022
Dallas’ Fair Park, home to the State Fair of Texas, will place a park atop a new parking garage
A registered National Historic Landmark, Fair Park is the 227-acre home to the Texas State Fair and various cultural institutions in Dallas, Tex.
Market Data | Jul 1, 2022
Nonresidential construction spending slightly dips in May, says ABC
National nonresidential construction spending was down by 0.6% in May, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Building Team | Jul 1, 2022
How to apply WELL for better design outcomes
The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) cites attracting top talent, increasing productivity, and improving environmental, social or governance (ESG) performance as key outcomes of leveraging tools like their WELL Building Standard to develop healthier environments.
Building Team | Jul 1, 2022
Less portable potty, more movable restroom
Some contractors are packing up their portable potties and instead using the H3 Wellness Hub.
Market Data | Jun 30, 2022
Yardi Matrix releases new national rent growth forecast
Rents in most American cities continue to rise slightly each month, but are not duplicating the rapid escalation rates exhibited in 2021.
Headquarters | Jun 30, 2022
Lenovo to build its new global headquarters in Beijing
Washington, D.C.-based architecture and design firm CallisonRTKL has announced it will create the new global headquarters in Beijing for Lenovo Group, a Chinese multinational personal technology company.
Mass Timber | Jun 29, 2022
Mass timber competition: building to net-zero winning proposals
The 2022 Mass Timber Competition: Building to Net-Zero is a design competition to expand the use of mass timber in the United States by demonstrating its versatility across building types and its ability to reduce the carbon footprint of the built environment.
Laboratories | Jun 29, 2022
The "collaboratory" brings digital innovation to the classroom
The Collaboratory—a mix of collaboration and laboratory—is a networking center being designed at the University of Denver’s College of Business.