Balanced Cantilever Girder Bridge Over the Danube-Black Sea Channel

This paper describes the design and construction of a “balanced cantilever girder” bridge over the Danube-Black Sea channel, characterized by a central span of 155m with two symmetrical side spans of 77.5m. The total length of the bridge, including portions of the abutments support, is 312.0m.

The bridge main features, from calculation as well as construction points of view, are in particular the post-tensioning tendons, distributed both a top and bottom sides of the section along the bridge. The former ones play a key role in the construction phase, for the need of counterbalancing selfweight while subsequent segments are realized.

Tendons are symmetrical about midspan, with anchors positioned at the end of each segment.

Bridge deck is supported by two piers outfitted with friction pendulum seismic bearings, which develop friction both in static conditions to withstand static forces and small displacements, and in dynamic conditions, causing dissipation. Under severe earthquake load all structures (deck and piers) develop only elastic behavior.

This papers presents a detailed review of the design process as well as a time journey during construction