Innovative composite overpasses on the Romanian A1 motorway - Economical Bridge Solutions based on Innovative Composite Dowels and Integrated Abutments - page 139

Innovative composite overpasses on
the Romanian A1 motorway

Edward Petzek, Luiza Toma, Elena Meteş & Radu Băncilă

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Keywords: VFT ® prefabricated composite beam, PreCoBeam, composite dowel, innovative
solution, integral bridge, in-situ test.

Abstract: Bridges are of essential importance to the infrastructure; it is a fact that, in the last
decades, composite bridges became a well-liked solution in many European countries as a
cost-effective and aesthetic alternative to concrete bridges. Their competitiveness depends
on several circumstances such as site conditions, local costs of material and staff and the
contractor's experience. Beside the classical solution, the new ones with efficient design,
which follows the present tendency in bridges consisting in simplifying the structure as much
as possible, consolidate the market position of the steel construction and steel producing
industry. In the background of Europe's transportation system renewal process, Romania
is also passing through a development period of its transportation infrastructure. This is
an opportunity for a country to develop efficient, economical and also modern projects,
targeting towards obtaining sustainable systems in the end. Continuous shear connection
using a cut steel strip is a solution for composite beams. The present paper presents a quick
overview of the technical solution chosen for two of the structures from the Orăştie - Sibiu
motorway section - overpasses which use in the cross section prefabricated composite
girders, applying composite dowels strips and VFT ® technology. To prove the accuracy of
the model, the bridge was submitted to several in-situ tests, which proved to be a success.

1. Introduction

An important factor within Europe's development process is the transportation system. The
completion of the pan-European corridors is also based on Romania's motorway and railway
system. Therefore investments in Romania's transportation infrastructure are made.
Many of the new investments in the transportation system are assigned by tender pro-
jects in form of „ design & build ” and in this way joint ventures between execution companies