THE 7th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

"CIVIL ENGINEERING - SCIENCE AND PRACTICE"

GNP 2020 – Kolašin, Montenegro, 10-14 March 2020

Darko Kasica1

TECHNOLOGY OF POST TENSIONING “MORAČICA” BRIDGE

Abstract
The free cantilever construction of the monolithic frame structure of the “Moračica” bridge
(Bar - Boljare highway) is described in this paper. BBR VT CONA CMI internal technology
was used for post tensioning in the longitudinal direction and BBR CONA CMF BT in
transverse direction. Company BBR Adria provided technical control and support during
construction. The construction was very demanding because of working at high altitudes
(maximum pier of 175 m height) with simultaneous activities on all piers. An additional
challenge was the frequent presence of strong winds that caused temporary interruption of
work. Work on the span structure began in November 2017 and the last segment was
completed in October 2019.
Key words
Post-tensioning, free cantilever construction, BBR Adria

1
M.Eng.C.E., BBR Adria d.o.o., Zagreb, darko.kasica@bbr-adria.com

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1. INTRODUCTION

The bridge bridges main road Podgorica-Kolašin, river Morača and plateau Moračica (the
bridge is named after this plateau), respectively. It connects northeastern slopes of Zdrvanj hill and
west slopes of Smrdulja hill. The elevation of vertical alignment of the highway at the beginning
of the bridge is about 253 meters above sea level, the elevation of vertical alignment at the end of
the bridge is about 293 meters above sea level. As measured by left axis of highway, the length of
bridge structure is L=960 m. The maximum height of the bridge above the terrain exceeds 175 m.
It exceeds the additional 30 m on the part above river Morača (this is the depth of the canyon
inrelation to plateau Moračica). Maximum span between middle piers is 190 m.

Figure 1. Longitudinal section of the “Moračica” bridge

2. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION AND EXECUTION OF BRIDGE

STRUCTURE

The cross section of the structure is double - cell box cross section of variable height along
the span. The width of the top slab of the main girder is 22.7m. The height of the girder above the
support on the pier P1 is 10.5 m. The height of the girder above the support on piers P2, P3, P4
and P5 is 11.5 m. The height of the beam in the middle of the span and above the bearings
(supports) on abutments is 3.8m. The height of the main girder changes per parabola 1.8. The
thickness of bottom slab of the section in the field A0-P1and P5-A1 varies, ranging from 30cm at
support to AO (A1) to 120 cm at the support to P1 (P5). The thickness of bottom slab of the
section in the fields P1-P2, P2-P3, P3-P4 and P4-P5 varies, ranging from 30cm at the middle of the
span to 120cm at the support on middle piers. The thickness of bottom slab changes per parabola
1.8. It is constant on the top of the pier. The bottom slab above the support on end abutments is 80
cm thick. The joints between bottom slab and longitudinal and cross webs are strengthened with
haunches. There are three thicknesses of the web of box girder (65cm, 55cm and 45cm). This
division suits to three lengths of beam segments (3.0m, 3.75m and 4.50m). The constant thickness
of the top slab is 30 cm.The thickness of web of base segments is 85 cm at base part. There are 4

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cross girders above the pier and their thickness is 80cm. Top slab between 1. and 2., and 3. and 4.
is strengthened to the thickness of 160 cm. It is cable deviator. The thickness of the slab between 2
and 3 is 50cm. The thickness of the webs and dimensions of the haunches of the top slab provide
enough space for the arrangement of anchor cables.

Figure 2. The typical cross section of the structure

Internal tendons are 27Ø15.3 mm, 22 Ø 15.3 mm, 19 Ø 15.3 mm, 16 Ø 15.3 mm and 12 Ø
15.3 mm. The tendons of the top slab and webs are installed and stressed during the construction
works. The tendons in the top slab are in so called combined arrangement. According to the plans,
there will be anchorage of 3 tendons in each segment, one next to each web (alternating from left
and right side of the web). This will not be applied in the sections S17, S18 and S19 because there
will be anchorage of 6 tendons (2 anchors next to the each web). All the cables in the top slab are
anchored in haunches. The cables in webs are bent down and anchored in webs. The cables in the
bottom slab are stressed after the connecting of the girder. These cables are anchored in the
anchorblocks. The pipes for possible additional cables are left in the top slab and bottom slab.
These pipes cables were left for two reasons: First of all, if some of the tubes to be "blocked", if in
it penetrates the cement grout from the concrete, and secondly, if it is necessary to do "fine" height
adjustment. Bridge deck is also transverselly prestressed with cables 3 Ø 15.3 mm on mutual
distance of 75 cm (or even less than this). These cables are adopted in order to eliminate
completely the possibility of appearance of cracks in the upper zone of bridge deck. This will
increase the durability of the structure. The lengths of post tensioned reinforced concrete
segments vary from 2 m, 3 m, 3.75 m and 4.50 m.

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Figure 3. Longitudinal internal tendons – general arrangement

Figure 4. Post tensioning of the BBR VT CONA CMI 2206 cable with 4800 KN jack

Figure 5. BBR CONA CMI BT - Stressing anchorage type SA and BBR CONA CMF BT - Stressing
anchorage type SA

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Figure 6. Bridge “Moračica” visualization

3. CONCLUSION

This year the most demanding bridge of the Bar - Boljare highway will be completed. BBR
Adria with experience contributed to the successful completion of the bridge. A total of 2,050
tonnes of post-tensioning steel strands and 100,000 m3 of concrete were installed in the span
structure of the “Moračica” Bridge.

LITERATURE

[1] European Technical Assessment ETA – 09/0286 for BBR VT CONA CMI BT – Internal Post
Tensioning System with 02 to 61 strands
[2] European Technical Assessment ETA – 12/0076 for BBR VT CONA CMF BT – Internal Post
Tensioning System with flat anchorages
[3] Main design: Bridge 02 Moraica, book: BBC030MO102GL01 – Technical report
[4] Main design: Bridge 02 Moracica, book: BBC030MO102GL03

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