DESIGN OF THE YEAR - THE GOURITZ RIVER BRIDGE

This bridge, constructed over the Gouritz River Gorge, near Mossel Bay, is of a prestressed concrete strut frame type, and situated on the southern coastal trunk road of South Africa. The superstructure consists of a continuous prestressed concrete box girder with cantilevered deck slabs. There are four spans, the main span being supported by two pairs of sloping struts founded in reinforced concrete bearing upon rock. Reference is made to the use and location of rock anchors. A description is given of the simultaneous stage by stage cantilever construction of the side spans, with the use of temporary tie-back towers. The precautions taken against temperature effects during locking of spans and struts are noted. The construction of the main span from both sides is described. A detailed stage by stage analysis including creep effects is carried out using a specially developed computer program, which also included service loads analysis and evaluation of forces, bending moments and stresses. (TRRL)

• Corporate Authors:

  Pithead Press Proprietary Limited

  4th Floor, Wynrop House, 91 Mooi Street
  Johannesburg,   South Africa 
• Publication Date: 1978-9

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: p. 26-32
• Serial:
  • Construction in Southern Africa
  • Volume: 23
  • Issue Number: 6
  • Publisher: Pithead Press Proprietary Limited

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Anchorages; Box girders; Bridge design; Bridges; Cantilevers; Computer aided design; Computer programs; Concrete bridges; Construction; Continuous structures; Creep; Formwork; Prestressed concrete; Reinforced concrete bridges; Rivers; Structural design; Temperature
• Uncontrolled Terms: Anchors
• Geographic Terms: South Africa
• Old TRIS Terms: Construction with movable form work
• ITRD Terms: 3420: Anchorage; 3474: Box girder; 3455: Bridge; 3450: Cantilever; 3413: Construction with movable formwork; 9006: Continuous; 1088: Inland waterway; 4796: Prestressed concrete; 8645: Software; 8103: South Africa; 6722: Temperature
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Design; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I53: Construction of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00309055
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 22 1980 12:00AM