Recently, the relevant review work for the 2023 International Bridge Conference IBC Awards has been completed, and the Pi River Main Canal Aqueduct Bridge Project won the Arthur Haydn Award.

Pihe Main Canal Aqueduct Bridge

It is understood that the Pi River Main Canal Aqueduct Bridge is located in Feixi County, Hefei City. It is a three-dimensional cross building of the Dihe River Diversion Project and the Tianhe Pi River Main Canal. It is independent of water and navigation without interfering with each other. It is known as the water overpass and ship overpass where there is a river on the river and boats on the boat. It is the world's largest span navigable water bridge, the world's first corrugated steel web aqueduct water bridge, and the first steel structure in China Aqueduct water bridge.

The Pihe Main Canal Aqueduct Bridge innovatively proposed a new structure with upper flat and lower arch, upper opening and lower closing, outer truss and inner wave, which achieved a breakthrough in the structural span under super-large variable-amplitude loads, and improved the lateral stability of the super-large U-shaped opening section. It is stable and releases the internal force caused by the huge uncoordinated deformation caused by the temperature difference between the water body and the structure; the water body in the aqueduct is drinking water for residents. It is 4mm thick 316L stainless steel, and the back surface is Q345qD steel, which is compositely formed by rolling process.

In order to meet the dual needs of large displacement and water stop between the steel structure aqueduct and the concrete aqueduct, a large displacement water stop expansion joint was innovatively developed. A series of water pressure, water tightness and replaceability model tests were carried out, and successfully applied in engineering practice, achieving good water-stop and deformation adaptation effects. In addition, it adopts a fully welded structure, an external hollow truss structure and a round arch rib line, and the overall shape of the structure is beautiful. Using landscape elements such as steel truss arches, diversion islands, trough water flow, and ship navigation, it embodies the aesthetic theme of rivers and long-distance sailing on the river, and realizes harmony and unity with the surrounding environment.

The International Bridge Conference (IBC) is an international bridge academic conference with a high reputation sponsored by the Pennsylvania Western Engineers Association, and has a very high influence in the international bridge industry. In 2023, the Pi River Main Canal Aqueduct competed with many high-quality bridge projects at home and abroad for the only seat for the Arthur Haydn Award, and finally won the award, becoming the only award-winning Chinese project in the 2023 International Bridge Conference. Editor/He Yuting