Skip to main content

ULMA engineering solutions on the emblematic Arch of Innovation bridge, Brazil

The arch of innovation is a cable-stayed bridge that will connect Zarur, São João, and Cassiano Ricardo avenues in São Paulo, Brazil. With a height of 100m, it has become one of the most iconic bridges in the country of its type, given its peculiar arc shape.
June 21, 2020 Read time: 3 mins

 

This bridge will create a safer and faster route for more than 180,000 vehicles/day, which will ease Sao Paulo's traffic. It will also include a bicycle lane of more than 3.6km.

One of the most relevant requirements in this project has been the versatility of the systems and the safety of the operators. To this end, the engineering team developed an integrated solution with the ideal formwork and scaffolding systems and applications for the pylons and the roads that run between them. The Queiroz Galvão construction company has once again trust in ULMA's engineering solutions, as well as in the capacity to respond to a project with stringent execution deadlines.

ULMA pic2The ATR self-climbing system was chosen for the two pylons with variable inclination and four-sided section, in combination with the VMK timber-beam formwork for the outside and the KSP platform for the inside. The self-climbing system has been perfectly adapted to the inclination and elliptical curve of the shaft of up to 23º in the last concreting. The whole set has allowed high execution rates, three-day concreting cycles in 3.6m high sections, without the need for a crane. In addition, it has three levels of working platforms for carrying out work on the formwork, rebar or concrete, as well as for lifting the structure, maintaining strict safety levels at great heights at all times. The platforms were designed in such a way that it was possible to regulate the angle to maintain horizontality as the arch progressed.  Despite the complexity of the geometry, the MK system has solved all the structural requirements.

With regard to productivity, the use of self-climbing formwork halves working times compared to a conventional climbing system in this type of project. This is because the system requires less handling. As the movement is carried out using a hydraulic system, there is minimal use of the crane, which is freed up for other tasks.

The two carriageways rest on an X shape. They were built with ENKOFORM HMK, supported by T-60 shoring towers. A solution of MK gantry formwork was proposed for the rest of the board to avoid closing the tracks.

For the construction of the arch section of the bridge, a supporting structure made of MK and VM beams supported by T-60 shoring systems was constructed. Custom metal profiles bear all the weight of the T-60 shoring system.

To access the different areas of the bridge, BRIO stairs were enabled on each side of the arch and in two separate sections. The first section is 60m-high and rests on the ground. The second section, 40m-high, consists of three independent staircases arranged on BMK consoles on the arch.

Constructor: QUEIROZ GALVÃO CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.


Sponsored content produced in association with ULMA Construction

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Self-climbing formwork solution for bridge pylons
    February 27, 2012
    Harsco Infrastructure has provided self-climbing formwork (SCF), which is helping ensure quick and safe access during the construction of a 320m tall pylon for the world’s longest cable-stayed bridge.
  • Doka and MFE in Malaysia join forces
    March 11, 2024
    Doka's purchase of MFE Formwork Technology, based in Kuala Lumpur, comes after its acquisition early last year of US-based scaffolding manufacturer and rental business AT-PAC.
  • Brazil’s Serra do Cafezal Highway
    July 29, 2015
    Brazil's improved Mercosur route will boost capacity and cut travel time - Mauro Nogarin writes. The Régis Bittencourt Highway is one of the main access routes of the Mercosur traffic. It has a length of 400km and connects the main cities of São Paulo and Curitiba, which allows for products to enter from the southeast toward the rest of the southern part of Brazil and later transit to Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. Products also flow into Brazil from Mercosur through this major highway. The cost of the hi
  • Foth Uses Collaborative Digital Engineering to Deliver Road Infrastructure Project
    June 1, 2020
    Foth utilised software from Bentley Systems to improve safety and traffic flow on an urban road stretch in Iowa.