This massive machine, called the “Segmental Bridge Launching Machine” or “SLJ900/32,” is capable of constructing prefabricated bridges without the use of cranes. This type of machinery helps reduce construction time and improve safety.
The machine is secured to two adjacent piers (which must already be in place) and moves the bridge segment along the underside of the piers, joining them together. This process is repeated pier by pier. Using this method makes it possible to continue construction without using cranes.
The counterweights on this machine play a very important role, as they prevent it from becoming unstable and tipping over while it is extending, before it has reached the adjacent pillar.
This machine, from 580 metric tons, has a about 91 meters long, more than 7 meters wide, and 9 meters high. The SLJ900/32 features 64 wheels, divided into four sections of 16, and can swivel sideways up to 90 degrees because it is hinged.
The machine is used in China for the construction of high-speed rail viaducts. Its use helps reduce construction time and improve workplace safety. Despite these undeniable advantages, the use of the SLJ900/32 increases the project’s cost.
This massive machine was designed by the Shijiazhuang Railway Design Institute. Some experts have estimated that the SLJ900/32 can build up to 730 bridges over its service life.
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