Mohammed VI -Cable supported bridge.

LOCATED ON THE RABAT BYPASS HIGHWAY, IN MOROCCO, THE BRIDGE WITH A TOTAL LENGTH OF 954.30 M. THE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN ALLIES MODERNITY AND INFLUENCES OF TRADITIONAL MOROCCAN CULTURE. INITIAL COST OF 56.5 MILLION EUROS. WORK STARTED MID-2010 AND DELIVERY SHOULD TAKE PLACE IN SPRING 2013.

The effect of wind in the design and sizing of the structure is a very important parameter, at the both in service and at construction. Wind taken into account during studies of APD characterizes a wind medium at deck level of 32 m / s, direction 270 °. The study of the work at wind has been the subject of wind tunnel tests at CSTB. Wind levels obtained are less severe than on a site flat country or habitat scattered. The effects of topography and local roughness rather protectors, the wind is not accelerated. In addition, the structure is located in a seismic zone. The seismic risk is taken into account and has been defined by the faculty of sciences of Rabat, university.

The structure description

The abutment located on the right bank is consisting of a trimmer and four circular barrels based on a sole superficial. The apron is simply supported on the abutment longitudinally and blocked transversely by seismic stops. The abutment, about 15 m above the natural terrain, is backfilled. The embankment body, at the front of the abutment, is coated with an armor stone mask, blocked by a spade at its foot. Electronics supports are of the elastomer pot support type. Given the anchoring of the apron on the pylons, these supports are sliding (one-way support and multidirectional support) to allow free longitudinal expansion of the apron.

The large width of the structure (26.90 m) related to the span of the beams of 40 m, a longitudinal joint is arranged in the vicinity of the central DBA. It two decks each consisting of five 3.03 m center-to-center beams (West deck) and 2.92 m (East deck). The prefabricated beams, height 2.30 m, include a table compression of 1.50 m and a heel of 0.80 m. The thickness of the core varies from 0.23 m mid-span to 0.40 m on support. They are joined together by a slab general and spacers on supports. The beams are made of concrete C40 / 50, while the spacers and the slabs, including the pre-slabs, are made in C35 / 45. Longitudinally, the work consists of two modules with three and two spans respectively, coupled with a continuity slab. Batteries, made of concrete C30 / 37, reproduce the shape of the legs of the pylons, overall dimensions 3.72 m by 2.60 m, in a hollow box with a thickness of 0.40 m. The C8 abutment, made of C30 / 37 concrete, is designed differently from abutment C0 for better adapt to this kind of work. The piers and abutment are based on shallow foundations. Soles are made of C30 / 37 concrete.

Herein I'll leave you to enjoy some amazing photos of the project...