Pendulum pier bridge

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Construction of a pendulum pier bridge
Pendulum Pillar Bridge Scheme.svg
  • Pendulum pillar
  • roadway
  • Foundations
  • Abutment
  • The pendulum pier bridge is a type of bridge construction in which the piers are articulated to the superstructure and the foundation . As a result, the pillars are only subjected to compressive forces , while the longitudinal forces, for example from braking or starting vehicles, are completely transferred from the superstructure into the abutment . The form of construction was mainly used at the turn of the century for larger bridges and is now considered outdated. In Berlin it was often used for railway overpasses with the Hartung column .

    In early bridges that used iron as the material for the pillars, individual pendulum columns were used, which were attached to the foundation and superstructure in an articulated manner . Initially, they were only used in places where constructions with masonry pillars were not possible for reasons of space. The slender pillars could be set up between the tracks of multi-lane railway systems, but were also useful when crossing city streets, where the passage was not hindered by the size of the pillars. However, these constructions were not particularly stiff with regard to lateral forces and torsion in the roadway.

    The joint at the bottom of a pendulum pillar (Hølenbrücke)

    The Swedish-Norwegian engineer Axel Jacob Peterson connected the individual columns across the bridge to form so-called pendulum piers , which are also called pendulum walls or pendulum yokes . The stiffer piers enable the bridge to better absorb torsional forces and wind loads , so that this type of construction could also be used for larger bridges, where the superstructure is exposed to high longitudinal forces due to traffic and thermal expansion . In addition, the pre-assembly of the pillars in workshops shortened the construction time on site.

    The first pendulum pillar bridges were designed by Axel Jacob Peterson during the construction of the Østfoldbanen , in Germany the Oschützal Viaduct by Claus Koepcke is the oldest pendulum pillar bridge. In Switzerland there are three very short structures on the Bernina Railway . They are often referred to as Wild West Bridges , even though they are not trestle bridges .

    After around 1910, the design was replaced by bridges with tower pillars .

    Examples of pendulum pier bridges

    No. Surname country use Length in meters Year of completion image comment
    1 Solberg Valley Bridge Norway Østfoldbanen 143 1881 Solbergtal railway bridge.jpg Oldest wall pillar bridge that is still in use. It is located near Tomter Station in Hobøl Municipality .
    2 Epfenhofer Viaduct Germany Wutach Valley Railway 264 1889 Wutachtalbahn Bridge2.jpg The bridge was designed for a two-track superstructure, but only one track remained.
    3 Norddal Bridge Norway Ofotbanen 180 1902 Ofotbanen Malmbanan railroad bridge.jpg The individual parts for the construction of the bridge were not allowed to weigh more than 1,200 kg so that they could be transported with the construction cable car. The bridge is currently no longer in operation.
    4th Oschützal Viaduct Weida Germany Werdau – Mehltheuer railway line 185 1884 Oschuetztal Viaduct 01 09.jpg Has not been used since a route correction in 1982, is a listed building.
    5 old Argentobel Bridge Germany State Road 1318 204 1907 Argentobel Bridge-around-1900.jpg Replaced in 1986 by an arch bridge.
    6th old Prince Heinrich Bridge Germany Bundesstrasse 503 1912 Prince Heinrich Bridge.jpg The bridge designed by Friedrich Voss was demolished in 1992 and replaced by a new structure.
    7th Hülsbachtal bridge Germany Westerwaldquerbahn 257 1906 Westerburg - Railway Bridge.jpg The bridge on a disused railway line near Westerburg is a listed building.
    8th Cave Bridge Norway Østfoldbanen 130.6 1879 Hølen Railroadbridge01.JPG The bridge on a disused part of the Østfoldbanen is one of the oldest pendulum pillar bridges.
    9 Upper Berninabach Bridge Switzerland Bernina Railway 31 1934 Rhb Bernina Express crosses the upper Berninabach bridge.jpg
    10 Lower Berninabach Bridge Switzerland Bernina Railway 37 1934 Lower Berninabach Bridge.JPG Continuous girder bridge with pendulum support.

    Almost provisional looking bridge, with direct rail support. Part of the new avalanche-proof route, above the Bernina Lagalb station.

    11 At the lake bridge Switzerland Bernina Railway 46 1949 2011-08-02 14-21-23 Switzerland La Rösa.jpg

    Web links

    Individual evidence

    1. Pendulum pillar . In: Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon . 6th edition. Volume 15, Bibliographisches Institut, Leipzig / Vienna 1908, p.  563 .
    2. a b Klaus Stiglat: bridges on the way: early bridges made of iron and concrete in Germany and France