Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Introduction
Footbridges offer design freedom and opportunity
for innovation for architects and engineers as they
typically have light load-bearing requirements and
are small in scale.
Front cover: The Juliana Bridge is situated in a wide bend of the river at Zaan in
the Netherlands. No set of piers is equal, with their width increasing incrementally
towards the deck pivot. The pier underneath the deck pivot is the highest deepest
and widest of them all and the entire moving mechanism is hidden inside this pier.
Photo courtesy of Royal Haskoning
This page: This 700m long multi-span stress ribbon footbridge was intended to
provide an attractive and practical connection between two seaside towns. The
deck was designed with 4m long precast deck units post-tensioned together,
increasing the stiffness of the structure and intended to provide durability in the
harsh marine environment. Image and design courtesy of Flint & Neill.
2
Concrete Footbridges
Design
Aesthetics and practicability are important considerations when designing concrete footbridges. However,
because of their potential slenderness, designers must be aware of issues such as wind, vibration and
the effect of collision loads. In particular, if long slender spans are used a balance between the number of
supports and protection against impact needs to be achieved.
Pedestrian footbridges over busy roads or other obstacles give a To give access to all types of user, ramps are normally needed. The
safe passage for various types of user. Consideration must also be preferred maximum ramp gradient is 1 in 20, but space limitations
given to the needs of disabled users, pushchairs or cyclists, and may require steeper ramps, 1 in 12 being the absolute limit. Horizontal
parapet requirements have a large influence on safety, function and landings, 2m long, should be provided for every 3.5m increase in
appearance. Footbridges which also form part of bridleways have special elevation. Stairs may provide alternative access. Riser heights are
requirements, specified by the British Horse Society [1]. typically from 125mm to 150mm maximum, with a maximum of 20 steps
between landings, which should be at least 2m wide, or 12 steps if there
These considerations are explored in this section as well as the is no change in direction at the lower landing.
engineering and case study sections that follow.
Lighting
Appearance
Lighting is needed only in urban areas or where lighting is already present.
Compared with most types of bridge, footbridges offer greater flexibility for Existing road lighting is often sufficient, except for covered bridges. It should
layout and form. Since footbridges are used at a slow pace by pedestrians, be carefully integrated into the structure using recessed units, if possible.
quality of detail and surface texture are important. In some cases,
footbridges are a visual improvement on motorways or other locations
where they contrast with adjacent low-key structures or surroundings. Construction
The location of the structure and potential disruption to traffic often
determine the method of construction. Supports should be built as far
Layout and headroom
from the carriageway as possible, and precast deck units that can be
Footbridges and approach ramps should be on the desired line so that lifted into place during a short traffic closure are frequently the preferred
detours and short-cuts are discouraged. To reduce bridge length, square method of construction.
spans are generally preferred: these also offer the possibility of limiting
intermediate supports near to running traffic. Visibility for drivers passing
under the bridge is then improved and the risk of column impact is reduced.
Kent Messenger Bridge, River Medway, Maidstone. Winner of a 2002 RIBA Award, the bridge is a ‘cranked’ stressed ribbon bridge. Architect: Studio Bednarski. Engineer: Strasky Husty
& Partners with Flint & Neill. Photo courtesy of Flint & Neill.
3
Concrete Footbridges
Engineering
Concrete can be used to deliver the design ambitions of the project and meet the engineering constraints of
loading, vibration and durability.
The use of new materials such as ultra high-strength fibre-reinforced concrete and innovative design such as
ribbon bridges can be used to meet the demand for cost-effective, sustainable and aesthetic designs. Conventional
in-situ and precast concrete with appropriate formwork can also achieve a flexibility of shape and finish.
Design loading and vibration Arched bridges are elegant and keep concrete in compression. Several
The pedestrian live loading applied to footbridges is typically 5kN/m2. manufacturers offer precast deck units, usually pre-tensioned beams.
For longer spans, a lower intensity may be appropriate, as described in These beams frequently take the form of a box, tee or double-tee
BS EN 1991-2[4], National Annex to Eurocode 1[5] and BS PD 6688-2[6]. section, generally in rectangular and straight layouts.
Structural deflection under live load should generally be limited to
less than 1 in 250 of the span. Precamber under dead load should be Recent developments in the use of non-ferrous reinforcement have
provided to compensate some or all of this. Attention should also resulted in a few bridges using carbon fibre tendons.
be given to BS EN 1991-1-7[7]. Substructures should be designed for
vehicle collision loads in accordance with BS EN 1991, but these may There is also the development of ultra high strength concrete (UHSC)
be able to be avoided by positioning supports outside the danger with compressive strengths of 170 to 230 MPa. UHSC consists of cement,
zone, normally 4.5m from the carriageway. Vibration must sand, silica fume, admixture, water and steel fibre.
be considered, which is covered by BS EN 1991-4.
The durability properties of UHSC are those of an impermeable material
with a resistance to permeability 50 times better than normal high
Form and materials strength concrete. Its other advantages are: no need for conventional
Concrete bridges will use either in-situ construction or precast units. reinforcement; resistance to aggressive environments and loading from
Conventional bar or prestressing strand may be used as reinforcement. blasts; permits the use of much thinner sections; provides complete
The best examples of bridges are usually cast in situ, and specially freedom on the shape of the section; reduces the concrete volume
created shapes can be used to improve the appearance. Soffits and of a structural member to one third to one half of its conventional
ramps may be curved to give geometrically flowing solutions, and in-situ volume; dramatically reduces the structural weight to be supported by a
construction normally has advantages over precast construction when structure and provides both direct and indirect cost saving.
structurally continuous decks are needed, as site joints are
not required.
Peace Footbridge, South Korea. Ultra high strength concrete (Ductal) is used for this footbridge. It is made up of six precast elements, each of 20m in length and 1.3m thick. This
supports a deck which is only 30mm thick. Photo courtesy of Lafarge.
4
Concrete Footbridges
Parapets Detailing
Parapets at least 1150mm high must be provided, with no foothold or Durability of the structure is a primary objective. Bridges shorter than
gap more than 100mm wide. On cycle bridges, they should be 1400mm 60m should be designed without movement joints and bearings where
high, and if used by horses and riders should be 1800mm. They should possible. Deck waterproofing is compulsory and surface drainage
conform to the P4 requirements in TD 19/06[8] which states that they may also be needed. The CIRIA Bridge Detailing Guide, C543[11] gives
should withstand a horizontal load of 1.4kN/m at the top. Attention guidance for engineers and technicians engaged in the preparation
should also be given to BS EN 1317[9] and BS 7818[10]. A 1500mm and development of details for highway and accommodation bridges,
solid elevation parapet is required above railways. At some locations, it subways, culverts and retaining walls. It concentrates on the detailing
may be necessary to consider a full enclosure to prevent objects being issues that follow conceptual and analytical design and explores basic
dropped from the bridge onto traffic below. principles, that have proved to be reliable in everyday use, in terms of
durability and ease of construction, inspection, maintenance and repair.
Intended for use by consultants, contractors, bridge owners and their
maintaining agents, it provides advice on the function and relative
merits of various details.
42500 9000
+1.041 1:20
233 166
106 51 273
R=250000 R=250000
4600
1:2
1:50 1:50
Kruiswegbridge
Photo and drawing reproduction courtesy of Royal Haskoning
5
Concrete Footbridges
Case studies
The case study examples contained in this publication are explored in more detail on the CBDG website,
www.cbdg.org.uk. The website contains more projects than we have been able to feature here and will
be updated with case studies from CBDG members as well as those submitted by visitors to the website.
40 min surfacing
1400 including approved
waterproofing system
350
Case study : Pedro Gómez Bosque, Valladolid, Spain 700
1200
Insitu RC
The Pedro Gómez Bosque spans the river Pisuerga inslab
the city of
Valladolid and set a new record for the longest hanging stressed
ribbon footbridge. Designed by the architects Carlos Fernández
Casado the bridge type was selected because of the two metre
difference in height between the two bridge ends. The length of
the bridge between the two ends of the stirrups is 100m, with
a main span of 85 m. The four metre wide platform is made of
prefabricated reinforced lightweight concrete.
FGL
6
Concrete Footbridges
Summary
This publication, the range of examples shown and the online
resources at www.cbdg.co.uk are intended to provide confidence to the
engineer or architect and demonstrate the ability of concrete to create
footbridges that perform on the basis of appearance, contribution to
the built environment and cost.
Bridge at junction A74/A732 on the road from Hamilton
BA 41/98: The design and appearance of bridges, Design manual for roads and bridges. Volume 1
Section 3 Part 11. HMSO, 1998
Bridge over the M40 at March Lane, Mollington.
TD 9/93: Highway link design. Design manual for roads and bridges -Volume 6 Section 1. Part 1 TD Photo: Courtesy of AECOM
9/93 inc. Amendment No 1. February 2002. HMSO, 1993
The appearance of bridges and other highway structures. HMSO, 1996
See: www.cbdg.org.uk for further details of
TILLER, R. Concrete footbridges. Cement & Concrete Association, 1973 the case study examples shown.
7
The Concrete Centre,
Riverside House,
4 Meadows Business Park,
Station Approach, Blackwater,
Camberley, Surrey GU17 9AB
Ref. TCC/02/11
ISBN 978-1-908257-06-2
First published 2012
© MPA - The Concrete Centre 2012
www.mineralproducts.org
All advice or information from MPA -The Concrete Centre is intended only for use in the UK by those who will evaluate the significance and limitations of its contents and take
responsibility for its use and application. No liability (including that for negligence) for any loss resulting from such advice or information is accepted by Mineral Products Association
or its subcontractors, suppliers or advisors. Readers should note that the publications from MPA - The Concrete Centre are subject to revision from time to time and should therefore
ensure that they are in possession of the latest version.
Printed onto 9Lives silk comprising 55% recycled fibre with 45% ECF virgin fibre. Certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.