Experiencies on the external prestressing in the railbridge for the Barcelona-Puigcerda railway over the transverse axis of Cataluña

Abstract

This communication describes the external prestressing system used in the railway bridge for the Barcelona-Puigcerdá railway; as well as the tests performed on the said prestressing system. The bridge overpasses the new road known as the transverse axis of Cataluña. The simply supported bridge, with 37,85 m span, incorporates both internal bonded prestressing tendons and external prestressing tendons; where the external prestressing tendons are replaceable. These tendons, injected with grout, are replaceable thanks to the double wall system arranged at the contact zones with concrete (anchorage zones and deviators), thus avoiding any bond between concrete and tendons. Further to the specific set of tests performed on the anchorage itself, in-situ static and dynamic tests were performed on the external prestressing tendons. The actual friction coefficient was recorded trough the static tests, whereas the dynamic test served to discard any vibration problem in the tendons.