Recently, the large-scale prefabrication of steel-UHPC lightweight composite bridge deck panels of Yantan Reservoir Grand Bridge for the key control project of the Bama-Qiangxu Expressway has been successfully completed. Additionally, the prefabrication of all UHPC tunnel cable trench covers along the entire Bama-Qiangxu Expressway has been finalized. Guangxi Road and Bridge Engineering Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as the Company) has achieved two significant breakthroughs in the industrialization and application of UHPC (Ultra-High Performance Concrete) prefabricated products, marking a solid step forward on the path to industrialization!

Further Leveraging the Full-Chain Advantage of UHPC in Research, Production, and Application

The deck construction of the Yantan Reservoir Grand Bridge utilized UHPC ready-mix, independently developed and produced by the Company. This marks another successful demonstration of UHPC’s full-chain advantage in research, production, and application, following its successful implementation in the Wuxuan Qianjiang Grand Bridge.

The Yantan Reservoir Grand Bridge features a structural system consisting of simply supported beams converted into continuous box girders and a single-tower, double-plane cable-stayed bridge. The main girder adopts a grid beam + UHPC lightweight composite deck panel system. The deck panel has a total thickness of 27.5 cm, composed of a 20 cm high T-section steel, a 1 cm thick steel base plate, and a 6.5 cm thick UHPC layer.

The bridge deck panels are factory-prefabricated, with the UHPC premix independently formulated and produced by the Company. At the casting site, only water, admixtures, and steel fibers need to be added and thoroughly mixed to produce UHPC material with a strength of 150 MPa. Compared to on-site mixing of raw materials, factory production of UHPC premix allows for more precise control and blending of raw materials, which significantly enhances quality control during construction. This approach greatly improves construction efficiency while reducing site occupation.

Successful Development of UHPC Tunnel Cable Trench Covers

UHPC prefabricated products not only feature high strength, high toughness, and exceptional durability but also significantly extend structural lifespan and accommodate complex, variable designs. Leveraging the advantages of UHPC materials, the Company has successfully developed UHPC tunnel cable trench covers. The Company has completed the prefabrication and installation of 110,000 covers required for the Bama-Qiangxu Expressway, effectively addressing a series of issues found in traditional reinforced concrete covers, such as insufficient strength, excessive weight, poor aesthetics, low durability, and susceptibility to chipping and edge damage.

The UHPC tunnel cable trench covers used throughout the Bama-Qiangxu Expressway are only 2.5 cm thick. While maintaining the same load-bearing capacity, the production cost per cover is more than 10% lower than that of conventional concrete covers, the weight is reduced by 75%, and the strength is increased by more than four times, delivering excellent overall benefits.

The application of UHPC technology in the Bama-Qiangxu Expressway aligns with the characteristics of new productive forces—high technology, high efficiency, and high quality—while also promoting green, low-carbon, environmentally friendly, and sustainable development. The Company remains committed to advancing UHPC technology, driving the development of a localized UHPC industrial chain that is both economically viable and technologically advanced. Through continuous technological innovation, the Company aims to build a comprehensive, sustainable supply chain for innovative and eco-friendly building materials, fostering a greener and more efficient construction industry.