Overview
The Statue of Liberty as introduced in previous article, changed her initially brown colored skin to the now iconic light green complexion after years’ exposure to the corrosive marine environment. Bridges always built above water, used to fall victim to this typical corrosion in like manner. With increasing stainless steel materials applied in architecture, stainless steels come to find their way to bridge constructions, especially in Europe. This week we will introduce stainless steel applied in London’s Millennium Bridge.
The Millennium Bridge, London
The Millennium Bridge, officially known as the London Millennium Footbridge, is the first pedestrian-only bridge crossing the River Thames for more than a century.
The bridge measures 325 meters long and 4 meters wide, with the main span of 144 meters among the three separate parts. It connects the City and St Paul’s Cathedral to the north with the reconstruction of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and Tate Modern on Bankside to the south.
The Concept & The Design
The late 1990s witnessed a boom in bridge-building projects and the Millennium Bridge was constructed as part of the UK’s millennium celebrations.
A collaborative team constituted by the engineering firm Arup Group, the designer Foster and Partners and the eminent sculptor Sir Anthony Caro, won the competition hosted by Southwark Council in collaboration with the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Financial Times in 1996. Their unique ‘blade of light’ design stood out for “reflecting the myriad possibilities and endless capabilities of the human race at the dawn of the 21st century”.
The Millennium Bridge is notable for its sleek, minimalist design which eliminates the use of traditional overhead suspension. From a certain angle, the suspension cables are even hanging below the deck level. This innovative structure allows for unimpeded panoramic views along the River Thames and preserves sight lines from the surrounding buildings, especially St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Rise to an Enduring Icon from a Botched Launch
The Millennium Bridge remains one of the London’s iconic landmarks and is regarded as an architectural and structural masterpiece. It lends itself as the backdrop to many films, such as the popular movies Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince, and Guardians of the Galaxy. However, its success never comes easy and cheap.
Why Nicknamed the Wobbly Bridge?
The bridge weathered a bumpy opening from the wobble incident which earned it the mocking nickname the Wobbly Bridge. The construction started with preparation works in late 1998 and the main construction works were commenced on April 29, 1999. It was officially opened on 10 June 2000 but closed two days after on 12 June 2000 for the phenomenon synchronous lateral excitation, as explained by the Arup Group.
It took more than 18 months for engineers to completely resolve the wobbly effect without influencing the original design by installing 89 dampers underneath the deck. 37 viscous dampers were used to regulate the swaying motions as shock absorbers and 52 tuned mass dampers to reduce the vertical movement.
After numerous tests, the bridge was reopened completely stable on 27 February 2002 and ever since. The construction of the bridge cost £18.2 million, £2.2 million over budget. The modification cost extra £5 million.
Stainless Steel Applied in The Millennium Bridge
The main materials used for construction are stainless steel, aluminum and concrete. Two platforms that support three separate sections are made from duplex stainless steel 2205, which guarantees the required strength meanwhile provides excellent corrosion resistance. The balustrades are made from marine grade 316L stainless steel. 8KM of 10MM stainless steel wire ropes were provided across 26 assemblies running the whole length of the bridge.
Stainless Steel from China at CIVMATS
At CIVMATS, we fabricate stainless steel bars and tubes which are always used for stainless steel railing, not limited to the bridge construction. Stainless steel wire ropes used as balustrade fittings are innovative and aesthetically appealing in design while meeting the functions. If you are looking for reliable stainless steel suppliers from China, go for CIVMATS and let us talk! We aim for the best value for our clients in the field of stainless steels.
