On April 18th, the century-old Zhejiang Road and Bridge began its closure for major repairs. A key aspect of this project involves the complete “relocation” of the bridge’s steel framework. To plan this complex task, the design team used BIM technology to simulate the entire relocation process in 3D space. Moving forward, BIM’s 3D scanning capabilities will gather detailed data to create a comprehensive database, supporting future repair and maintenance efforts.
BIM technology has become widely adopted in road and bridge construction, proving its substantial value. For instance, in 2014, several key projects benefited from BIM applications, including the Baishatuo Yangtze River Grand Bridge, the Jinan Yellow River Highway and Railway Dual-use Bridge, and the Zhaoqing Yuejiang Bridge on the Chongqing-Guizhou Railway New Line.
Rendering of the New Baishatuo Yangtze River Grand Bridge
For the Baishatuo Bridge project, a dedicated BIM team was formed, comprising experts from several design institutes. Their goal was to develop a detailed 3D information model of the main bridge structure, which included simulations of cables and steel beams, as well as collision and design checks. The team also optimized maintenance, pedestrian, and auxiliary functions.
They simulated construction processes for critical components such as piles, tower bases, bridge towers, and steel beam installations. Additionally, virtual tours were created for driving, walking, and maintenance scenarios. This approach enabled early detection and resolution of potential issues during the design phase, resulting in precise planning, less material waste, and minimized rework due to effective collision checks.
Zhaoqing Yuejiang Bridge Construction Site
As a pilot project for BIM application on large-scale bridges, the Zhaoqing Yuejiang Bridge utilized BIM primarily in three key areas:
1) Dynamic simulation and scheme comparison: The construction of the main bridge pier was the most complex and high-risk part of the substructure. Using BIM models of the steel platform and suspension box, dynamic simulations were conducted based on the construction plan to provide technical guidance and detailed insights.
2) Interference checks: Design errors discovered during modeling were clarified or corrected before construction began. The model also helped identify and resolve conflicts between temporary and permanent structures, ensuring smooth progress.
3) Statistical analysis: By comparing material quantities derived from detailed models and construction drawings, discrepancies in workload statistics for both permanent and temporary structures were identified and addressed.
Assembly Construction Site of the Jinan Yellow River Dual-purpose Bridge
The Jinan Yellow River Highway and Railway Dual-use Bridge, a critical project on the Shiji Railway, was undertaken by China Railway Fourth Bureau. The successful assembly of the front guide beam members for the main span’s top-push steel beam marked the beginning of Asia’s largest steel beam top-push construction.
For the first time in China, both top-push construction technology for steel truss beams with stiffening chords and BIM technology were applied to such a massive dual-use steel bridge. This made the project one of the country’s most notable high-tech bridge constructions at the time.
Yesheng Yellow River Highway Bridge
On April 7, 2015, Ningxia Road and Bridge Company signed an agreement with the BIM project team from Tsinghua University to apply BIM technology in constructing the Yesheng Yellow River Highway Bridge. BIM enabled proactive and effective control over construction quality, safety, and progress.
By leveraging building information modeling and visualization, every construction method and process was clearly presented to workers. This helped them quickly identify design and construction issues, improving overall efficiency.
The adoption of BIM technology in road and bridge construction continues to enhance engineering quality, increase efficiency, and strengthen project management capabilities.
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