Half-Shell Stay Cable Sheaths

• Aerodynamic Aerodynamics
• Durable and protection restored
• Protective
• Time-saving installation Technical data sheet reference no.: FT En R VII 1 2

Introduction Durability
Freyssinet has designed a special half-shell or half-section
In order to prevent photo-oxidation, the Freyssinet sheath was formulated with anti-oxidant
sheath for housing previously installed stay cables. The helical
sheath performs the following principal functions:
additives. It was also successfully tested in a SEPAP 12-24 chamber for over 8,000 hours,
corresponding to a service life of around 100 years in temperate regions (depending on the
• Protecting strands from ultraviolet radiation (UV), colour).
• Providing a erodynamic stability for the stay cable,
• Reducing the effects of rattling, caused by strands in the
same bundle knocking together.
The Freyssinet helical sheath is made from polypropylene (PP)
and offers two vital additional advantages:
• Excellent durability,
• Prevention of a erodynamic instability under the combined
effect of rain and wind.

Description
To guarantee satisfactory mechanical properties and a high
level of resistance to physical and chemical attack, the
Freyssinet stay cable sheath is mono-extruded using
high-quality raw materials.
In order to ensure the a erodynamic stability of the stay cable,
a helical rib the same colour as the sheath is added on the Application
Freyssinet sheath during production.
The half-shell stay cable sheath is designed to be extremely
Half-shell sheaths are installed from the deck only.
compact. Its diameter fits the diameter of the bundle or cable
on which it is installed.
The half-shells are assembled in sections using a patented
built-in clip system. Each section overlaps the top of the
section installed below and is secured independently to the
support wire, which is also used as an installation wire.

Each half-sheath section is placed next to another around the bundle and the two half-shells
are then clipped together. Next, the section is connected to the hoisting wire and hoisted a
distance equal to its length. Another section of sheath is then assembled, connected to the
wire and hoisted, and so on. Each sheath section overlaps the one below by a few centimetres
(bell-end fitting).
FT En R VII 1 2 - v1 - 02/14
 Half-Shell Stay Cable Sheaths

Aerodynamic stability Dimensions

One of the main causes of stay cable vibration is the wind and The following duct sizes are available: ϕ G External diameter e G Total thickness
rain excitation during light rain combined with a moderate (mm) (mm)
wind. 200.5 4
Two streams of water then run down the sheath, one stable 171.1 4
on the lower fibre and the other unstable on the upper fibre, 167.0 4
changing the a erodynamic profile of the sheath. 133.5 4
To be defined as per enquiries
The double helix ribs on the Freyssinet stay cable sheath
The complete duct is fabricated on site and made up of 3.0m long half shells clipped together.
divert the streams of water and prevent excitation whilst
Smaller elements will be cut on site to adjust overlap between last section of duct and formwork
providing a low drag coefficient, reducing the transverse loads
tube at top anchorage area.
on the structure.
The shape of the ribs and the pitch of the helix they form Mechanical characteristics
around the sheath, result from a long-term research
programme undertaken with the ‘Centre Scientifique et The pipe shall comply with the following standards:
Technique du Bâtiment’ (CSTB) for the Normandy Bridge. • ASTM F 2389
The curve below, produced during wind tunnel tests, • Category heterophasic copolymer defined by Table 1 and Appendix table X 1 of ASTM D 5857-09
illustrates the efficiency of the helix rib:
The properties of the raw material shall be:
Dynamic efficiency of sheath PROPERTY VALUE ASTM Test Method Iso Test Method
Density (g/cm3) ≥ 0.900 D 1505 EN ISO 1183
Melt index of 5kg at 190°C (g/10min) 0.9- 1 D 1238 EN ISO 1133
Without rib Flexural modulus (N/mm²) ≥ 1000 D 790 ISO 178
Tensile strength at yield (N/mm²) ≥ 28 D 638 EN ISO 527-2
≥ 350
Tensile elongation at break (%) D 638 EN ISO 527-2
on duct material
Vibration amplitude

Charpy notched impact strength (0°C) ≥ 26 D256 ISO 179-1

With rib

References
7 m/s 15 m/s Normandy Bridge (France) – 1994 – approximately 42,000 m installed
Wind speed Amizade Bridge (Macau, China) – 2011 – 1,250 m installed
Guadiana Bridge (Portugal) – 2011 – 80 m installed

Local sales contact

FT En R VII 1 2 - v1 - 02/14

All rights reserved by FREYSSINET. Product names are trademarks of FREYSSINET. The information in this document is subject to change.
While it is as accurate as possible, it is not in any way binding on FREYSSINET.

Freyssinet 1 bis, rue du Petit Clamart - Bât C - 78140 Vélizy-Villacoublay - France • Tel. : +33 1 46 01 84 84 - Fax : +33 1 46 01 85 85 • www.freyssinet.com