Tavanasa Bridge, also known as ''Vorderrheinbrücke, Tavanasa'' is the name of the two
reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete, also called ferroconcrete or ferro-concrete, is a composite material in which concrete's relatively low tensile strength and ductility are compensated for by the inclusion of reinforcement having higher tensile strength or ...
three
hinged arch bridge
A hinged arch bridge is one with ''hinges'' incorporated into its structure to allow movement. In structural engineering, a hinge is essentially a "cut in the structure" that can withstand compressive forces. In a steel arch, the hinge allows f ...
s designed by Swiss
civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering – the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructure while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing i ...
Robert Maillart
Robert Maillart (16 February 1872 – 5 April 1940) was a Swiss civil engineer who revolutionized the use of structural reinforced concrete with such designs as the three-hinged arch and the deck-stiffened arch for bridges, and the beamless f ...
. The first of these was constructed in 1904, but later destroyed by an
avalanche
An avalanche is a rapid flow of snow down a Grade (slope), slope, such as a hill or mountain. Avalanches can be triggered spontaneously, by factors such as increased precipitation or snowpack weakening, or by external means such as humans, othe ...
. The second, constructed in 1928 stands to this day.
History
The previous bridge of 1904, saw a development in Maillart's own treatment of the arch. This bridge was a three-hinged reinforced concrete hollow
box girder
A box girder or tubular girder (or box beam) is a girder that forms an enclosed tube with multiple walls, as opposed to an i-beam, - or H-beam. Originally constructed of wrought iron joined by riveting, they are now made of rolled steel, rolled ...
arch bridge, and unlike Maillart's previous bridge at
Zuoz
Zuoz () is a municipalities of Switzerland, municipality in the Maloja Region in the Switzerland, Swiss Cantons of Switzerland, canton of Graubünden.
History
Zuoz is first mentioned about 840 as ''Zuzes''. Historically, Zuoz was the political ce ...
, saw the removal of the horizontal members of the box girder near the supports, which had experienced cracking. The replacement of the destroyed bridge however, became a high arch bridge, with the insistence of the
canton
Canton may refer to:
Administrative divisions
* Canton (administrative division), territorial/administrative division in some countries
* Township (Canada), known as ''canton'' in Canadian French
Arts and entertainment
* Canton (band), an It ...
.
Maillart's later
Salginatobel Bridge
Salginatobel Bridge is a reinforced concrete arch bridge designed by Swiss civil engineer Robert Maillart. It was constructed across an alpine ravine in the grisonian Prättigau, belonging to the municipality of Schiers, in Switzerland between 19 ...
re-uses a similar form.
Image gallery
Image:Rheinbrücke Tavanasa Bauplan 01 11.jpg, Construction drawing of the first Tavansa Bridge
References
{{reflist
Bridges in Graubunden