The Structural Awards were initiated by the Institution of Structural Engineers of the UK in 1968. Known as the "Oscar" in the structural engineering circle, the awards aim to honor the creative, aesthetic, sustainable and valuable structural designs of infrastructure and architecture around the world. Past winners include iconic structures such as the Sydney Opera House, the Pompidou Centre and the Severn Bridge.
The 462-meter-long Youshui Bridge in Fenghuang Town holds two world records: the world's longest-span asymmetric arch bridge featuring a deck-type concrete-filled steel-tube (CFST) arch structure, spanning 292 meters across the Youshui River valley; and, the world's first large-span double-limb arch bridge with truss-type CFST arch ribs.
The Youshui Bridge spans across the U-shaped Youshui River Valley with steep mountains on both banks. The arch springings are strategically positioned alongside the existing road, minimizing the need for extensive excavation of the mountains and devastation of the vegetation. This innovative design approach not only maximizes the utilization of the available road but also enhances the pristine beauty of the surroundings - green mountains, lucid water, an old town, and the new bridge.
This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.
Translator: Pang Yuehui
Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn
