95 MOVABLE STEEL BRIDGE Zeebrugge, Belgium The bridge is an impressive feat with a length of 400 m and a width ranging from 13 to 22 m. It includes a remarkable 130 m movable section, the largest movable steel bridge in Europe, weighing a staggering 1,800 tons. The movable bridge consists of two massive steel beams, 3.3 to 4.3 m in height, supported by secondary beams and an orthotropic deck. A primary challenge in the project was accurately predicting the interaction between models due to the flexible foundation and the large water depth (20 m). This flexibility had a significant impact on joint movements and forces, requiring precise calculations. Aligning and connecting the models from both offices using spring constants posed a communication-intensive task. The project also faced challenges such as limited construction height, heavy fatigue loading, and a tight deadline. To address the demands of heavy-duty traffic and fatigue, a comprehensive 3D bar model utilizing Finite Element Method (FEM) was employed. This model allowed for detailed examination of different construction stages, including lifting and swimming. By incorporating global models of the concrete bridges, including the foundations on embedded piles, the interaction between components was streamlined into a single model, reducing the number of iteration steps. OWNER Port of Antwerp-Bruges GENERAL CONTRACTOR Artes Depret, Victor Buyck and Besix Unitec CONSTRUCTION PERIOD 10/2020 - 04/2022 ENGINEERING COMPANY Tijdelijke Maatschap SBE - Stendess Steffie Rooms Slachthuisstraat 71, Sint-Niklaas, België www.sbe-engineering.com STENDESS STEEL ENGINEERING & DESIGN SERVICES INGENIEURSBUREAU CIVIL STRUCTURES 2
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