That's really cool. I've often wondered why we don't standardize a lot of things that we build things out of here. Each of those sections could be built off-site, and the final bridge assembly would take days, instead of a year or longer to build on-site.
It won't work that way. The crane required to set that section would collapse the bridge.
When we set big girders it is always off the ground and not the bridge for that reason.
That machine is absolutely the bomb!
....The Chinese have also invented a machine for paver/brick roads. Pretty cool:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIhttsAM5YQ
I understand. I have experience on bridge jobs and crane work. It takes a massive crane to move a load like that one.
I'd estimate the weight of that hollow box section at 500,000 pounds. It takes a crane weight of 1,200,000 pounds to put it out that far due to the physics.
So you proposed clamping to the beam itself.
Concrete is only loaded in compression. If you load it in tension, it comes apart. That girder has hundreds of cables running through it, that were pulled by hydraulics to put them under tension. The girder was cast and the tension released. Now those cables are holding the structure in compression.
Trying to torque off that structure would blow it up in dramatic fashion.
That machine uses the weight of that beam to reach itself out to the next pier, and then trams it out there. It is elegant as can be, a true marvel.
very nice drawing.
*snip*
amazing equipment engineering. Wondering why the workers have no safety harnesses on.
amazing equipment engineering. Wondering why the workers have no safety harnesses on.
before we get all impressed with chinese building tech lets not forget...
But look how well they built it, it fell over and still didn't come apart! :sneaky:
First I wonder why build that tunnel given how short it is and how little distance from the top it sits.
Second wonder about the type of road construction, a fairly small lane road in what looks otherwise mostly wilderness (transportation wise). Some way of preserving the ground below by having floating roads?
The valley looks intensely farmed so land may be at a premium. Also, is it a road or high speed rail?First I wonder why build that tunnel given how short it is and how little distance from the top it sits.
Second wonder about the type of road construction, a fairly small lane road in what looks otherwise mostly wilderness (transportation wise). Some way of preserving the ground below by having floating roads?