Permafrost-Adapted Lightweight Modular Steel Bridge to EC3, AASHTO & AS

A modular steel bridge is a bridge system that uses standardized prefabricated components and is quickly assembled through pin or bolt connections. Its core design concept is to break the bridge into a limited number of general-purpose components (such as truss panels, beams, deck panels, end posts, etc.) which can be arranged in different combinations to suit various spans and load levels. Unlike traditional welded steel bridges, modular steel bridges do not require on-site welding or large lifting equipment; they can be erected with simple hand tools and minimal auxiliary machinery, making them the preferred choice for emergency relief, military engineering, and infrastructure construction in remote areas.

1.Application Scenarios

2.Product Highlights

l Arbitrary Span Combination: Standard segment lengths are 3m/4.5m/6m (depending on the system), and by increasing or decreasing the number of segments, it can accommodate spans from 6–60m.

l 150% Component Interchangeability: Within the same model, all truss panels, beams, braces, and end columns are fully interchangeable, reducing spare part types by 70%.

l Single-Handed Manual Propulsion: Uses a manual or electric winch with rocking and rolling mechanisms to gradually push the entire bridge across the waterway without requiring equipment on the opposite bank.

l Strong Horizontal Lateral Resistance: Lateral braces and wind-resistant rods are installed between truss panels to form a spatially stable system, resisting typhoons and earthquakes.

l Multi-Level Deck Options: The same truss set can have separate layers for vehicle lanes, pedestrian walkways, and pipeline supports.

l No-Foundation Water Crossing Solution: Temporary bridges can be set on the riverbed bedding layer or natural ground with a bearing capacity ≥80 kPa, without the need to cast concrete abutments.

3.roduct Materials

ü Main Truss Panels

Made of 16Mn or Q355B high-strength structural steel (European standard S355J2 N / American standard ASTM A572 Gr.50 / Australian standard AS/NZS 3678 Grade 400), welded into rectangular or triangular truss units.

ü Pin Connections

Made of 40Cr or 35CrMo alloy steel (European standard 34CrNiMo6 / American standard AISI 4140), quenched and tempered with surface hardness ≥320HB, with pin holes designed for double shear load.

ü Beams and Tracks

Rolled I-beams (e.g., I20a–I40a), bolted to truss nodes, support deck loads and transfer them to the trusses.

ü Deck System

Prefabricated steel grating or anti-slip steel plates, bolted to the beams; wood-plastic composite boards can be added for pedestrian bridges to reduce noise.

ü End Columns and Base Plates

Made of cast steel or welded box structures, used to transfer truss loads to abutments or foundations, with rubber pads to accommodate ±5% abutment height deviations.

ü Corrosion Protection Packaging

Hot-dip galvanization (coating thickness ≥85μm) is the standard; epoxy sealing paint can be added for marine environments.

4.Design Features

Ø Multi-Level Truss Combinations (Double or Triple Rows): When a single-row truss cannot meet the load, a second or third layer of truss panels can be stacked vertically to form double or triple-row structures, with linearly increased load-bearing capacity.

Ø Reinforced Chords: Additional reinforcement rods attached to the outer sides of the upper and lower chords of the truss panels can significantly improve bending resistance, suitable for ultra-long spans or heavy loads.

Ø Hollow Beams: Beams have web openings to allow pipeline passage and reduce self-weight, also serving as maintenance access.

Ø Adjustable End Structures: End columns have height-adjustable screws or pad layers to accommodate ±100mm abutment height deviations.

Ø Anti-Tipping Counterweight Design: For top-supported modular bridges, apply concrete blocks or water tanks on the end deck to increase the anti-tipping stability factor.

Ø Floating Bridge/Suspension Bridge Conversion System: The same set of components can be configured with floating pontoons to become a floating bridge, or with cables to form a suspension bridge, achieving multi-purpose use.

5.Core Advantages

⭐Rapid Response Capability: Standard spare parts are stored in multiple regional warehouses worldwide. Orders are shipped within 24 hours and can be set up on-site within 72 hours.

⭐Low Labor Dependence: Uses pin connections and bolt fastenings, requiring no certified welders or flaw detection. Ordinary workers can operate after simple training.

⭐Efficient Transport and Stacking: Truss panels can be tightly stacked (20 pieces per pallet). A 40-foot container can carry a full set of components for a single 30m span. Air transport is also possible.

⭐No Temporary Works: No need to build full scaffolds or cofferdams; can directly span rivers or gullies, with minimal environmental impact.

⭐High Asset Residual Value: Components can be disassembled without damage and either returned to inventory for the next project or recycled into steel, resulting in low life-cycle costs.

⭐Flexible Ownership and Reuse: Users can choose between purchase or rental. For short-term projects (<6 months), rental can significantly reduce upfront investment.

⭐Mature and Reliable Specifications: The modular bridge system has been used globally for over 80 years (e.g., Bailey bridges), with well-established design formulas, construction methods, and accessory supplies.

6.Standard System

7.Why choose Us

Choosing our modular steel bridges means you are choosing an emergency response partner that enters a countdown state from the very first day the order is placed. We don’t just deliver steel components—we provide a complete set of battle-tested rapid assembly processes, a global spare parts network, and asset management services covering the entire project lifecycle (procurement → transportation → assembly → disassembly → storage → reuse).

📧Satisfied after reading? Feel free to contact us, we look forward to working with you!🤝