Civil engineers at Queen's University in Belfast are set to begin work on the world's longest flatpack arch bridge. The engineers will make use of the FlexiArch system, developers over a decade ago by Professor Adrian Long in collaboration with the Macrete Ireland concrete company.
This bridge essentially maintains the principle and appearance of the classic Roman arch while simplifying its construction greatly. Conventional arch bridges feature tapered blocks cemented together on a form, but the FlexiArch system opts for pre-cast one-meter blocks that are set in lengths and supported by flexible polymeric membrane.
The flatpack arch bridge will be installed over Wallington River outside Portsmouth. It will span 16 meters in length and will take under a day to construct using a 220 - 330 ton crane.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Flatpack Arch Bridges
- The development of flatpack arch bridges simplifies construction and offers faster installation times.
- Flexiarch System
- The use of pre-cast one-meter blocks and flexible polymeric membrane introduces a new approach to bridge construction.
- Efficient Crane Operations
- The use of a 220 - 330 ton crane enables quick and efficient installation of flatpack arch bridges.
Where This Applies
- Civil Engineering
- The civil engineering industry can benefit from adopting the innovative flatpack arch bridge design for faster and cost-effective construction.
- Concrete Manufacturing
- Concrete companies can explore opportunities by providing pre-cast one-meter blocks for the construction of flatpack arch bridges.
- Crane Services
- The crane services industry can leverage the demand for efficient crane operations in the construction of flatpack arch bridges.
