Steinbach Viaduct
The Steinbach Viaduct in central Germany carries the A38 autobahn across the Steinbach Valley. It has a length of 372m, with spans of between 54m and 78m, and a maximum height of 35m. Its construction was completed in 2002, with expansion joints installed at both ends.
However, the bridge was not opened to traffic until several years later, in its first years carrying only the construction traffic involved in the construction of the motorway at either side. Due to the potential effects of the heavy construction traffic on the structure's slim deck, it was decided to install an automated SHM system to monitor the traffic and its effects.
mageba scope
At the time of the bridge's construction, TENSA-MODULAR expansion joints were installed in its deck – a 5-gap (LR5) joint at one abutment and a 6-gap (LR6) joint at the other.
Several years later, a temporary ROBO-CONTROL monitoring system was installed, to monitor autobahn construction traffic. In addition to displacements, inclinations and strains, the high-tech system was designed to measure structure vibrations at frequencies of 100 Hz. This enabled vehicle weights and speeds to be deduced by comparing the resulting vibrations with those of vehicles of known weight and speed as recorded during system calibration.
As a result, overloading of the bridge could be ruled out, enabling the owner to have full confidence in the bridge's long-term performance.
Installation of a TENSA-MODULAR expansion joint on the bridge in 2002.
The central computer of the ROBO-CONTROL monitoring system, installed in 2005.
TENSA-MODULAR expansion joints and ROBO-CONTROL monitoring system
2002 (expansion joints), 2005 (SHM system)
Bridge type:
Box girder bridge
Leonhardt, Andrä & Partner
TENSA®MODULAR LR-LS
固定型结构监控系统
结构监控
ROBO®CONTROL Permanent