Aesthetic of Construction Joints - Pylon

[Portergeist]

I have been requested to assess the aesthetic acceptability of a construction proposal for construction joints between every stay location of a pylon.

I am wondering is a construction joint halfway between each stay location(1.5m c/c) is too much. Or am I being over cautious.

Obviously we will be insisting on property prepared joint surfaces and satisfactory design. I am concerned more about the aesthetics. Have you any thoughts/advise on merit of visible construction joints?

 

[graybeach]

For something like this which does not affect structural integrity, I would just do what the responsible "aesthetic expert" wants. I might have an opinion, but usually no one cares what the structural person thinks about aesthetics.

You do not necessarily need a CJ at each location. The same look could be formed.

In the absense of an "aesthetic expert", I might say that the horizontal scoring between each cable connection looks pretty cool.

 

[Portergeist]

Thanks Graybeach,

This is a rare time where the structural person has been asked to make a call on the aesthetics!

I note that it's a positive from you. And correct the CJ does not necessarily need to be there. We could insist on less cj's if it was aesthetically merited.

Looking for comments..

 

[hokie66]

graybeach seemed to understand your question, but I don't know what I'm looking at. What sort of "pylon" and "stay" are you talking about? Is that a plan view or elevation?

 

[Portergeist]

Hi Hokie

It's a rough sketch of a front elevation on the pylon.

The construction lines are the locations of the the proposed Construction joints. The round holes are the stays, as in the approximate cable stay locations.

 

[hokie66]

Ah, I think I get the picture now. It is a pylon on a cable stayed bridge. Why didn't you say that?

I would think you would want as few construction joints as possible, but then I'm not a bridge engineer.

 

[graybeach]

You can have a CJ without the horizontal groove, and you can have horizontal groove without a CJ. With all the stuff that needs to be installed to support the cable, the contractor might want a CJ between cables, but he might not want it exactly half way between.

I would leave the CJ location to the contractor, and specify grooving based on aesthetics. I've seen more vertical grooving than horizontal on cable stay towers.