Design of a Curved Incrementally Launched Bridge

Using the example of the Ile Falcon Bridge, it is shown that, given proper attention during design and rigorous quality control during construction, incremental launching can be used successfully for the construction of a bridge with complex geometry. It is shown that acceptable longitudinal and transversal distortions can be defined and accounted for in the design of the launching prestressing. The effects of various systematic errors are considered, and rotation errors are shown to compound despite match casting. Simple structural considerations are used to make a preliminary estimate of the launching and guiding forces.