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Press Release30 June 2016MobilityMunich
Suspension bridge above the Gulf of Izmit opened
The picture shows the Osman Gazi Bridge in Turkey.
Constructed entirely from steel and with a main span of 1550 meters, the bridge is suspended 64 meters above the Sea of Marmara to the south of Istanbul - a region which is considered particularly prone to earthquakes. The structure therefore had to be fitted with special technology that continuously measures vibrations, movements and loads to give alarms to the bridge operators for all abnormal events.
Siemens has equipped the bridge with about 390 sensors that constantly monitor its condition and raise the alarm in the event of excessive vibration. The sensors continuously measure longitudinal and lateral strain as well as the stress loads on the road sections leading up to the main span. Special GPS sensors fitted to the bridge register oscillations of the bridge piles down to the last millimeter, while wind and temperature measuring units are also provided.
Changes and potential damage to the bridge are also immediately detected by the sensors, for instance to check the steel structure continuously for corrosion. In the interior chambers of the bridge, in the bridge towers and bridge decks as well as on the sheathed suspension cables, a special system controls and regulates atmospheric humidity, ensuring it remains below 40 percent to prevent the steel from rusting in the sea air.
The construction of the bridge and the 409-kilometer-long highway between Istanbul and İzmir is part of the largest freeway project in Turkey to date. The Concessionaire Otoyol Yatirim ve Isletme A.S. (Nurol-Özaltin-Maykol-Astaldi-Yüksel-Göcay) has been appointed under the terms of Built-Operate-Transfer (BOT) contract to plan and operate the new motorway over a period of 22 years. This new six-lane bridge connection will cut the travel time between both cities from eight to four hours.
Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for more than 165 years. The company is active in more than 200 countries, focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization. One of the world's largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is No. 1 in offshore wind turbine construction, a leading supplier of gas and steam turbines for power generation, a major provider of power transmission solutions and a pioneer in infrastructure solutions as well as automation, drive and software solutions for industry. The company is also a leading provider of medical imaging equipment – such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging systems – and a leader in laboratory diagnostics as well as clinical IT. In fiscal 2015, which ended on September 30, 2015, Siemens generated revenue of €75.6 billion and net income of €7.4 billion. At the end of September 2015, the company had around 348,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.
Contact
Katharina Zoefeld
Siemens AG
Otto-Hahn-Ring 6
81739 Munich
Germany
81739 Munich
Germany
+49 (89) 636-636802