Hong Kong Stonecutters Bridge-- longest span cable-stayed bridges

[Ar3Man]

Main Span
06MS51 Screen Size Image Assembly of deck segment in progress
06MS52 Screen Size Image Fabrication of anchor box in progress
06MS53 Screen Size Image Fabrication of diaphragm panel in progress
06MS54 Screen Size Image Fabrication of stainless steel skin in progress

[Ar3Man]

West Tower
06WT51 Screen Size Image General view
06WT52 Screen Size Image Assembly of exterior tower platform in progress
06WT53 Screen Size Image Concreting for pile cap completed
06WT54 Screen Size Image Concreting for pile cap completed

[Ar3Man]

West Back Span
06WB51 Screen Size Image General view
06WB52 Screen Size Image General view
06WB53 Screen Size Image Erection of 3rd layer steel bracing completed
06WB54 Screen Size Image Erection of 3rd layer steel bracing completed

[Ar3Man]

Design Considerations
(a) Design Competition - An international design competition organized by Highways Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) was held in 2000. The winning design was highly praised for its aesthetic merits. It is a bold yet simple scheme. The winning design concept was chosen as the Reference Scheme (RS), and further developed during the detailed design stage.

Wind tunnel tests were also carried out to investigate the susceptibility of stay cables to rain-wind induced vibrations and verify the effectiveness of various mitigation measures in minimising such rain-wind induced phenomenon.

(b) Wind Tunnel Tests – As with the design of all long span bridges, aerodynamic considerations require extensive analysis and wind tunnel testing was carried out as follows:

1:80 Standard Section Model Tests

These tests were carried out to investigate the vortex shedding response and steady wind load coefficients of the deck section. The effect of guide vanes and variations in girder edge geometry were also investigated. The tests were conducted by the Danish Maritime Institute.


1:20 Section Model Tests

The purpose of these tests was to verify the aerodynamic performance of the deck section determined from the 1:80 standard section model tests. By modelling the deck section in a larger scale a more accurate shape and position of the guide vanes was determined. The tests were carried out at the National Research Council in Canada .


Full Aeroelastic Tower Model Tests

The purpose of these tests was to investigate the tower's vortex shedding response and to determine the measures necessary to reduce the response to acceptable levels to minimise the risk of cable vibrations. A 1:100 full aeroelastic tower model was constructed to study the response of the tower under various wind conditions. The tests were carried out in Denmark .




Stay-Cable Testing

The stay-cable will be subject to the effects of wind and rain and will affect the bridge in two ways:

- The drag load coefficient of the cables will be directly reflected in the horizontal load carrying capacity of the bridge.

- Large amplitude oscillations induced by the combined effect of wind and rain may introduce wear and fatigue damage to cable attachments and cause concern to motorists travelling on the bridge.

- Wind tunnel tests were carried out to investigate the susceptibility of stay cables to rain-wind induced vibrations and verify the effectiveness of various mitigation measures in minimising such rain-wind induced phenomenon


Full Aeroelastic Bridge Model Testing

The Full Aeroelastic Bridge Model Tests were carried out to measure the buffeting response to turbulent wind and susceptibility to aeroelastic flutter and galloping instabilities of the bridge. Measurements in the service condition and in selected construction stages with topographic proximity were carried out in Monash University in Melbourne , Australia .




(c) Turbulence Intensity Measurement - As part of the design of the Stonecutters Bridge one of the key considerations was the wind loading to which the bridge is exposed. In order to ascertain the loading, the wind climate at the bridge site was thoroughly investigated by means of wind tunnel tests and site measurement.

It was necessary to develop site-specific wind loading for the structural design of Stonecutters Bridge . To achieve this, field measurements were carried out to collect information on the wind speed, wind profile and wind turbulence at the CT8 side. Terrain model wind tunnel tests were carried out to complement the field measurements and to extend the coverage to include the CT9 side and the areas in between.

Terrain Model Testing

The approaches to the bridge are over terrain varying from open water to mountains and built-up areas. To establish the atmospheric turbulence characteristics at the bridge site and to correlate wind data from various specific locations for different wind directions, wind tunnel terrain model tests consisting of a 1/1500 scale model of the topographical terrain surrounding Stonecutters Bridge were conducted. The terrain coverage was within approximately 9 to 10km radius from the proposed bridge site.


Field Measurement

Wind Turbulence Intensity Field measurements were carried out to measure the wind climate at the bridge site. The objective is to carry out field measurements of atmospheric wind speed, direction and turbulence in order to obtain information on the vertical mean wind profile, horizontal mean wind inclination and one-point spectra prevailing at a location near the bridge site. The fieldworks, included the construction of a 50m high mast structure and provision of anemometers, barometers, hygrometers, and thermometers at both 30m and 50m above ground. A data logger and analyser were also provided. The mast structure is located close to the future position of the tower on Container Terminal 8.


(d) Marine Aspects -

Clearance Requirements
The bridge will straddle the Rambler Channel at the entrance to the Kwai Chung Container Port. In order to allow for adequate airdraft for the passage of super container vessels of the next generation, the soffit level of the bridge is set at a minimum level of 73.5 mPD. It will make the Stonecutters Bridge deck one of the highest in the world.

Navigation Simulation Workshop
One of the critical design constraints is to ensure the passage of vessels at all times during the construction of the bridge, and most critically, during the lifting of deck units from the channel. Pilots from the Hong Kong Pilots Association Ltd (HKPA) generally guide major vessels, such as container ships, into the port. A navigation simulation workshop was held in early July 2001 for the pilots from the association to become familiar with possible restrictions during construction of the bridge. Using real time simulation software at the workshop, the pilots navigated into and out of various berths during the lifting of deck units from different locations within the channel.

Ship Impact Tests
As the tower’s foundation will be located less than 10m away from the existing seawall coping lines of Container Terminal 8 and the proposed Container Terminal 9, ship impact is a significant load scenario for the design of Stonecutters Bridge. To model the complex soil/structure interaction during impact of ship, geotechnical centrifuge model testing using a 1:200 scale model of a vessel bow and seawall within a container was adopted to carry out the centrifuge testing. The container was then put into a calibrated centrifuge and spun at a centrifugal acceleration of 200 time gravity (200g).

(e) Detailed Design - The bridge was designed using sophisticated computer software to simulate the behaviour under different loading conditions through construction and for the full service life. Each stage of the construction process was modeled, as well as the complex effects of the wind environment, potential seismic events, and the patterns of traffic loading. A global model of the full bridge was used to determine the effects caused. This was updated at key phases to reflect the latest information as the design evolved. Very detailed local finite element models were used to determine stress flows in different parts of the bridge and supplement the global results. A rigorous verification was made to confirm the safety and performance of all structural components and compliance with the statutory design standards.


(f) Design Development - The design of Stonecutters Bridge is developed from the Reference Scheme (RS) with the objective of keeping its appearance. The main changes to the RS were:
‧ Deletion of the monolithic joint between the deck and the tower to reduce the torsional moment in the tower during the full cantilevering of the bridge as well as in-service.

‧ Introduction of lateral bearings and longitudinal hydraulic buffers at the towers to cater for the horizontal wind loads and short term dynamic loading such as that from wind and seismic effects respectively.

‧ Use of parallel wire stay cables instead of locked coil cables.

‧ Change of deck cross-section shape from a fully curved soffit to a combined curve and straight soffit.

‧ Modification of the top 118m portion of the tower from a steel only cross-section to a steel-concrete composite section to provide greater stiffness and damping.


(g) Wind and Structural Health Monitoring System (WASHMS) - A Wind And Structural Health Monitoring System will be installed in Stonecutters Bridge to monitor the response of the bridge to different loading conditions including Wind Loading, Temperature Loading, Highway Loading and Seismic Loading. Sensory System (SS) collects information on the spot and transmits the signal back to central control units for storage and analysis.

[scorpion]

incredible work, thnx Ar3Man

[Rachmaninov]

Simply mind-blowing!!! Thanks!!!

[jpq21]

I can't believe i haven't heard of this untill now. This provide a much faster and more direct route to the airport and lighten the huge load on the current highway system. Looks massive!

[cmoonflyer]

Impressive project !

[bloodylepus]

A very professional update. Another impressive infrastructure project in HK with extensive international collaboration.

[hkia]

I also dislike cable-stayed bridges. They are utility-looking, and lack elegence.

[hkth]

From news.gov.hk:
Key route to open next year

[hala]

by 輝 仔 (faing) from http://hk-place.com/vp.php?board=1&id=2239-1

2006-11-02

[Skybean]

Sept. 16, 2006




Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/42978996@N00/290405035

[SYDNEYAHOLIC]

I love the look of this new bridge and I love cable stayed bridges

I love the way it travels over the port - pretty cool

[rt_0891]

So much change has happened around Mei Foo. Last time I resided there, there was actually an oceanfront promenade by the estate. Nowadays, it's blocked by the KCR/Tung Chung/Airport Line, an expressway, Lai Chi Kok Park, the freight terminal port and Stonecutters Bridge.

[gladisimo]

The bridge, if its done in white, has a touch of a "landmark" feel to it. Given the background (container ports?) I think the bridge is somewhat of a misfit. In this situation I would rather call for a "public convenience" and utility-oriented bridge, maybe a simple suspension or even a causeway? Either way though, at night, when everything else is dark, the bridge will look good on its own right.

I have mixed feelings about the bridge, the modern-ness of it contrasts to much with the industrial backdrop...

[Patrick Highrise]

I saw a program here in the netherlands on discovery channel about this bridge. Very impressive, they sure got their hands full while building this bridge!
those 2 b/w pics here above are really nice. great atmosphere in them.
More and often updates on this bridge wanted please

[hkskyline]

[CP Doom]

Originally Posted by Patrick Highrise

I saw a program here in the netherlands on discovery channel about this bridge. Very impressive, they sure got their hands full while building this bridge!
those 2 b/w pics here above are really nice. great atmosphere in them.
More and often updates on this bridge wanted please

I saw something similar & it was bloody boring. This is far more enlightening. Well done everyone for keeping us up to date. This is going to be a classy bridge.

[hkskyline]

Contract Description :

Stonecutters Bridge is a 1.6 km long dual 3-lane high level cable stayed bridge, with a clear span of 1018 metres. It is a major part of the section of Route 8 between Tsing Yi and Cheung Sha Wan. The bridge will straddle the Rambler Channel at the entrance to the busy Kwai Chung Container port. It will be situated at the back-up land of the Container Terminal 8 (CT8) at the eastern side on Stonecutters Island. At the western side it will be built on the back-up land formed for Container Terminal 9 (CT9) on Tsing Yi Island. The Stonecutters Bridge when completed will be one of the longest span cable-stayed bridges in the world.







March 2007 Updates




Erection of deck lifting beams for north deck lifting frame


Installation of temporary bowstring frames


Steel fixing

Website : http://www.stonecuttersbridge.net/