Ahead of a bridge construction project, it is vital to investigate and assess the ground properties in order to locate faults, groundwater and large fissures with soft infill materials. This information is crucial for a successful project execution as it dictates the choice of methods, the programme, the resources needed and the project costs. Ground investigation is especially important to guarantee solid foundations of structures subject to high loading such as bridges.

The improvement of ground properties guarantees solid foundations and therefore, improved stability, durability, and increased success of construction works. Ground improvement also reduces the cost of foundation works.

Ground improvement methods include:

• Soil consolidation techniques such as grouting, jet grouting, vibro-compaction, stone columns, soil mixing
• Environmental protection such as slurry walls and curtain grout
• Temporary consolidation such as curtain wall by ground freezing
• Dewatering
• Drainage and preloading to consolidate compressive soils

By transferring loads deep into the ground to competent soils or rock, these structural elements, encompassing the piles and pile caps, improve the stability and durability of bridges.

Active structural reinforcement systems and solutions that offer flexibility in the design of bridges, optimise the construction process and drastically improve sustainability and safety of the structures. VSL is an industrial pioneer of this technology and stands at the forefront of innovation and worldwide standards.

In the early fifties, post-tensioning systems for the pre-stressing of concrete was developed by specialists such as VSL in Switzerland. Very quickly, this revolutionized the design and construction of concrete bridges.

Queensferry Crossing, United Kindgom

Sheikh Jaber Causeway, Kuwait

Burgoyne Bridge, Canada

Tran Thi Ly Cable-stayed bridge, Vietnam

Baluarte Cable-stayed bridge, Mexico

Stay cables are the optimum solution for spans or cantilevers between 100 to 500 metres and exposed to severe loadings and environments. VSL is a worldwide leader in stay cable solutions, and has developed versatile and modular solutions that are installed with minimum impact on site operations.

A game changing and revolutionary new technology that offers you the chance to permanently transform your cable-stayed bridge into a breathtaking and must-see attraction. Your bridge will become a giant screen – measuring several hundred meters and with several million pixels – that can project live shows, videos, advertisements and direct messages to the public, offering inhabitants and visitors alike a new kind of entertainment and interaction.

A monitoring scheme, including the integration of permanent or quasi-permanent sensor systems, which allows the collection and analysis of data to control and anticipate the structural behaviour and stability of a bridge, and optimise maintenance and repair interventions.

Bridges and viaducts are critical links in transport infrastructure networks that need to remain in operation while ensuring users safety. The structural components ensuring their stability, such as stay cables, post-tensioned concrete or bearings, are subject to high stresses and exposed to harsh environments. It is therefore critical to preserve, repair and sometimes upgrade them in order to control their ageing and guarantee the structure’s stability.