Bridge Abutments

The European bridge market is predominantly dominated by concrete bridges, primarily selected based on minimum initial investment criteria hence, steel and steel-composite bridges emerge as intriguing alternatives when additional factors like span length (>50m), aesthetics, construction speed, or reduced weight come into play.
 

Yet, a comprehensive cost analysis considering the infrastructure’s entire lifespan revealed steel and steelcomposite structures to be the most prudent choice. With traffic volumes and vehicle weights perpetually on the rise, prioritizing the cheapest construction projects no longer suffices, especially given the long-term nature of bridges, often designed to last over a century. Challenges such as fatigue and the need to accommodate heavier traffic loads over the structure’s lifecycle highlight the enduring impacts on road traffic. Ensuring infrastructure durability and minimizing traffic disruptions during repair, reinforcement, or replacement works are critical.

Additionally, natural hazards account for 10 % to 70 % of disruptions, highlighting the need for resilient infrastructure. Integrating existing and innovative steel structures can provide optimal solutions for bridge construction. Furthermore, Europe’s well-developed highway and railway bridge networks face the urgent challenge of replacing thousands of ageing assets, impacting traffic flow. Additionally, global initiatives are adapting infrastructure to withstand extreme weather impacts. A holistic approach is needed to fortify systems against climate change, ageing assets, and geological hazards.

The factbook provides an holistic overview of the use of steel sheet piles for bridge abutments (advantages, design aspects, sustainability, innovation). The document includes case studies from various projects.