New bridge in the high velocity train to the northwest of Spain

C. Jurado
Polytechnic University of Madrid, Ingecal Ingenieros, S. L. Spain

ABSTRACT: The present article describes one of the most singular bridges in the area near to Madrid including
aspects of the project and the construction of a bridge called E-8 in pergola over the existing railway that
connects Madrid with the city of Alcobendas and with the north of Spain. The structure has 140m length with
a span of 20 m. and a vertical clearance of 7 m.
The project of the bridge was realized by means of a three-dimensional model of finite elements with the
program SAP2000N that includes all the elements of the structure. The project of the bridge was realized during
the year 2004 and the construction during the years 2005 and 2006.
Aspects of the model included in this paper are: the 3D finite element model of the bridge and relevant aspects
of the construction.
1 INTRODUCTION
During the years 2001 to 2007 in Spain the new high
speed railway line that joins Madrid with Valladolid,
with a length of 179,6 kilometres has been constructed.
The time estimated to cover the distance is 50 to 55
minutes,which supposes an average speed of 215 kilometres
per hour, but the railway platform is prepared
to reach 350 kilometres per hour.
The cost of the works has ascended to 264.8 million
Euros.
Between the most singular structures that are
present in the nearest zone of the high speed line to
Madrid, is the bridge E-8, called in Spanish in pergola
type, to solve the crossing with the line of the
suburban rail network in service, which joins Madrid
with the near city of Alcobendas.
The adopted solution was determined by the crossing
of the two railway platforms with a very acute angle
of 25. To minimize the total height of the superstructure,
accomplishing the vertical clearance of 7.00 m,
demanded by the OfficialTrains Department (RENFE)
for the railway below, we came to the conclusion
that the most suitable solution was a bridge called in
Spanish in pergola, constituted by prefabricated prestressed
beams, perpendicular to the abutments,which
cover a span of 20 m. and a slab of reinforced concrete.
The prestressed beams have a height of 1.00 m. and
the thickness of the slab over them is 25 cm. These
beams rest on two lintel girders of reinforced concrete
of 100 cm. height and with a length of 140 meters.
The oblique angle of the intersection means a length
of the abutments of the bridge in the sense of the lower
railway Madrid-Alcobendas, of 140 m.
The foundation of the bridge was solved by means
of piles of reinforced concrete with 1.00 m. diameter
and 16.25 m. length, which are joined by a foundation
beam of 1.60 m. height and 120 m. width. The
Figure 1. Aerial view of the crossing between the new and
the existing railways.

piles in the zones of the pergola continue upward as

cylindrical pillars of 0.70 m. of diameter.
The inaugural trip from Madrid to Valladolid has
been made, with satisfactory results for the minister
of CivilWorks on November 15, 2007.
During the trial phase the train has reached a
velocity of 330 kilometres per hour.
The line Madrid Valladolid was put in service to
the public on December 23, 2007.
2 THE PROJECT
The project of the bridgewas made by means of a threedimensional
finite element model using the program
SAP2000N that included all the parts of the structure,
such as: piles, foundation tie beams on the piles in the
zone of the pergola, abutments, prestressed beams,