Digital News

　　At the construction site of the Fuzhou Airport Second Expressway, a smart girder yard has been set up specifically for the prefabrication of box girders. The project is undertaken by Fuzhou Airport Double-Line Expressway Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Fuzhou Communications Construction Group under Fuzhou Zuohai Holding Group. By utilizing advanced digital technologies, this yard has been transformed into a “smart factory” for pre-fabricated box girders, with a task to produce 2,131 box girders for a 5.5-kilometer bridge section. So, how does this “smart factory” operate? Let’s follow the reporter for a closer look.

　　What makes this smart girder yard special? According to the project personnel, the smart girder yard stands out from traditional ones by focusing on spatial optimization through the integration of multiple functional areas. The on-site laboratory, concrete mixing station, steel processing workshop, and girder yard are strategically located next to each other, forming an integrated smart production line. This design allows for centralized raw material processing, concrete mixing, and small box girder prefabrication, offering robust spatial support for the yard’s smart operations.

　　What abilities does the smart girder yard have? The answer is “agility.” On the smart production line, each functional area effortlessly handles its tasks, automating the production of box girders weighing over a hundred tons. The smart girder yard is equipped with three smart production lines, a total of 12 self-propelled mold bases, as well as longitudinal and lifting tracks that assist with support and movement. Following the platform’s instructions, the self-propelled mold base moves along the pre-fabrication track, passing through each functional area of the box girder production process. It completes the prefabrication steps for prestressed box girders in sequence, including rebar tying, concrete pouring, steam curing, tensioning, grouting, and storing the girder. After completing these steps, a box girder is produced, and the mold base returns to its starting point to begin another round of production.

　　“It’s worth noting that during the steam curing process, we’ve introduced a ‘smart caretaker’ for the freshly poured girders,” said a staff member. This “smart caretaker” refers to an intelligent steam curing system that ensures 360-degree steam coverage for the girders, leaving no blind spots. The system precisely monitors and adjusts the girder curing parameters. “After going through four stages - static curing, heating, constant temperature, and cooling - the girder’s strength reaches 90% of its design strength, and its elastic modulus reaches 85% of the design value within 24 hours, significantly boosting production efficiency,” the staff member explained.

　　The smart operation of this girder yard relies heavily on its “super brain” - an intelligent monitoring center built by the project team using advanced digital technologies. This center houses a comprehensive information management platform that oversees the entire lifecycle of the girder yard. With a large display screen, managers can easily access detailed pre-fabrication data for each box girder, and track the entire production, storage, and erection process. This ensures that all construction data is traceable, providing a solid foundation for more scientific decision-making in the production and erection of prefabricated girders.

　　What benefits has the smart girder yard brought? The reporter learned that, compared to traditional methods, the number of workers at the smart girder yard has been reduced by 30%, while productivity has increased by about 2.5 times. “The smart girder yard has achieved breakthroughs in box girder quality, intelligent construction, and low-carbon environmental impact. It has transformed box girder production from basic ‘manufacturing’ to advanced ‘intelligent manufacturing,’ ensuring the high-quality construction of the Fuzhou Airport Second Expressway,” said a project leader.