Title: Manufacture and Installation of Prestressed Concrete Guideway Beams for the Vancouver ALRT

Author(s): P. Lowe

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 93

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 389-404

Keywords: box beams; conveying; forming techniques; guideways; installing; manufacturing; precast concrete; prestressed concrete; production methods; quality control

DOI: 10.14359/6312

Date: 9/1/1986

Abstract:
This paper describes the manufacture of 1040 prestressed concrete trapezoidal box girder guideway beams for the 14.8 km long dual-lane aerial guideway for the Vancouver Advanced Light Rapid Transit Project. The guideway beams are up to 36 m in length and weigh up to 100 t. In order to achieve the extremely tight tolerances dictatedbythe direct fixation ofrunning and linear induction motor railstotheprecastbeams, a sophisticated forming system was utilized to produce b ea ms with continuously varying vertical and horizontal alignment and super-elevation. Ahigh-precision jigging system was developed to cast in threaded inserts for attachment of the track hardware, and a thorough quality control program for dimensional and material control was instituted to ensure compliance with the construction specifications. Thedesignofthe first pumped concrete placing system to be used in a North American precast plant is described, as well as details of the plant layout, movable shelters, hoisting equipment and steam curing system utilized. Stripping, storageandtransportationoftheserrassivebeamstothe siteovercity streets at night is described. Details of the plant and field post-tensioning operations which were included inthebeamsupplycantract are also provided.