The main spans of the replacement Harry W. Nice Bridge consist of three continuous spans, and the span length is about 282’ for each side span, and 350’ for the center span, as shown in following figure. The superstructure consists of 6 steel girders, whose web plates range from 114” to 144” in height. The six girders were erected in three pairs (girder pair 1-2, 3-4, 5-6), and the maximum length of girder segments is 238’. The Skanska-Corman-Mclean JV is the General Contractor, who in turn hired CHI Consulting Engineers to perform stability analysis of the steel girders during the erection.

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CHI performed comprehensive 3D finite-element eigenvalue buckling analyses of the structural system for each erection and lifting stage, with steel thin-walled structures being modeled with high-order shell elements and detailed geometry allowing high-precision capture of its structural behavior. The stage-by-stage computational stability analysis provide in-depth insight into the safety of erection plan and leads to the development of erection plans with more efficient lifting, installation, and bracing procedures that allow improved safety, greater economy, and reduced construction time for the contractor.