With the increasing number of vehicles and the growing demand for transportation in various countries due to economic development, the construction of highways is becoming more challenging due to various terrain and geological characteristics. The construction of high pier for bridge construction is a technical challenge faced by many bridge projects. This article will analyze the problems and quality management measures of pier construction.

High Pier Construction Problems

1.Long Construction Period

During the construction of a high bridge pier, difficulties arise due to limited construction conditions. It is crucial to understand the stress situation of high pier columns, especially after strict height requirements are imposed. When constructing the pier formwork, it 's crucial to study the stress conditions of the pier formwork to determine if it can meet the requirements of bridge construction and then develop relevant adjustment strategies. During the construction of high pier formwork for bridges, it 's important to use concrete reasonably. During this period, it should be noted that the concrete drop height usually exceeds 5 meters, and the higher the height of the high pier, the higher the concrete drop height. Some parts even need to recalibrate the concrete multiple times, making the construction more challenging. This is the main reason for the extended period of high bridge pier construction.

2.Difficult Joint Construction

When constructing high bridge pier columns, it is crucial to ensure the overall integrity of the high pier, prevent significant shaking of the high pier columns due to poor joint effects, and ensure the construction effect and safety of the high pier. Therefore, the construction company needs to establish a sound connection plan for high pier columns and use the most reasonable technology to solve the joint construction problems. This will ensure that after joint treatment, the high pier columns have optimal flexibility and bending moment resistance, while strengthening the load capacity of the high pier.

3.High construction risk

High-altitude bridge pier construction requires not only strong construction skills but also strong psychological endurance for the construction personnel. If these two requirements cannot be met, it will increase the construction risk.

Quality Management of High Bridge Pier Construction

1. Strengthen skills training

High bridge pier construction is a high-risk construction project, and the professional skills of the construction personnel have a significant impact on its quality. Therefore, in actual construction, it is necessary to provide training in professional skills for construction personnel. Construction companies should actively recruit fixed construction personnel and offer training and assessment courses on various construction techniques, construction precautions, and safety measures. Prior to construction, pre-job evaluations should be conducted to ensure that the professional skills and relevant comprehensive qualities of construction personnel meet the qualification standards.

2. Measuring and Layout Points

High piers are crucial components of highway bridge construction. To ensure the project's progress, it is necessary to start with the measurement and layout construction stage, control the progress strictly, and ensure the construction quality of measurement and layout.

Professional construction personnel should perform measurement and layout to ensure accuracy and avoid minor issues. The measurement and layout data will serve as a crucial foundation for future highway bridge construction. Once there are errors in the measurement and layout data, it will inevitably impact the smooth progress of the later project. Furthermore, the construction's cleanliness should be ensured during the measurement and layout process.

3. Formwork Engineering Technical Points

High bridge pier construction requires formwork to be set according to actual construction requirements. Formwork engineering is the most susceptible to problems in high-pier construction, particularly in the selection of pier formwork and the joint part of formwork, which are prone to problems. Furthermore, during the dismantling process, it may be affected by external or human factors, affecting the quality of high pier projects. The construction of high pier formwork must adhere to the construction standards. When selecting formwork, it should be based on the structural materials of high-pier projects. The selected formwork must be processed and then put into use. For instance, the steel formwork has the characteristics of a smooth surface, tight joints, fine dimensions, and easy dismantling, which is more suitable for highway bridge high pier construction.

4. Steel Engineering Technical Points

Firstly, in reinforcement construction, the layout according to the engineering construction drawings should be strictly followed, especially the setting scheme of supports must meet the requirements of the construction drawings. Secondly, various details in the processing of reinforcement should be strictly controlled to ensure the quality of reinforcement engineering. The procurement, inspection, storage, and use of reinforcement materials should be properly protected to avoid being affected by external factors. Thirdly, for some reinforcement supports that need to be pre-completed, relevant welding work should be done to ensure the tightness of the connection between the reinforcement structures and avoid open welding problems.

5. Concrete Pouring Technical Points

After the erection of supports and the installation and welding of reinforcement, the final step in high pier construction is the pouring of concrete. This step has a significant impact on the construction quality of high piers and requires close supervision by relevant personnel to guarantee the quality of concrete. Cement, sand, and gravel should be mixed according to the prescribed proportions. The mixing process should strictly follow the mixing order. Strict construction standards can enhance the quality of concrete and improve the construction quality of high piers. During pouring, the formwork should be cleaned to prevent excess water or debris. If cracks appear in the formwork before pouring, gaps should be filled with materials to repair and complete the formwork, improving the tightness of the formwork. The pouring of concrete should be done in layers. Release agents should be applied at the joints of the formwork, and a suitable vibrator should be selected based on the concrete situation to vibrate it. The thickness of concrete pouring should be selected based on the actual conditions of the highway and the reinforcement ratio to ensure a reasonable proportion.

6. Quality Management Measures

During construction management and control, it 's crucial to control the bending of prestressed bars to prevent damage to the prestressed bars. When the prestressed bars exhibit a certain degree of bending during work, welding reinforcement should be done on the main bars of high piers to effectively prevent secondary bending. When the prestressed bars have a large bending degree, they should be cut off and the new bars should be welded. Generally, the deviation of the architectural numerical value of the high pier platform should not exceed 0.3% of its height. In-site management requires strengthening safety management and construction standards. Construction workers must wear safety helmets to prevent unnecessary accidents on the construction site.

7.Concrete Formwork Removal and Maintenance

Concrete formwork removal and maintenance are crucial for maintaining the high piers' construction quality. The purpose of the formwork is to ensure the shape and quality of the concrete after pouring, to prevent damage to the newly poured concrete. Therefore, when the concrete's strength reaches the national standard, the high piers' formwork should be removed. When using a crane to remove formwork, it is important to ensure that the concrete is not damaged and to repair, clean, and assemble the removed formwork in a timely manner.

To Sum Up

Highway bridge construction is a crucial aspect of high-tech highways. High pier construction is a technical challenge faced by many bridge projects. High pier technology's application in highway bridge construction includes concrete pouring, stress analysis, support measurement, etc. Only by strictly controlling various construction processes, meeting the design specifications, can the construction of highway bridges be completed in terms of quality and quantity.