Segmental bridges
Cast-in-situ and precast segmental construction, the two approaches suiting different span arrangements, site access and casting arrangements.
Services
Design and Consultancy
Permanent-works design for bridges and structures, from concept through tender to detailed design and construction drawings, in prestressed concrete, steel-concrete composite and steel.
Capabilities at a glance
- Design stages
- Concept to constructionConceptual, preliminary, tender, detailed design and construction drawings
- Bridge types
- Nine formsSegmental, cable-stayed, extradosed, integral, arch, movable, mobile, floating, modular
- Other structures
- Four sectorsHigh-rise, complex steel structures, tunnels, stadiums and large venues
- Existing structures
- Assess and extendStructural assessment, strengthening, repair and rehabilitation
Overview
What the design service covers
BECT designs the permanent structure: the bridge or building that remains when the temporary works have gone. The service runs from first concept through tender documentation to detailed design and construction drawings, in prestressed concrete, steel-concrete composite and steel.
Two things distinguish it. The first is breadth of structural form: segmental, cable-stayed, extradosed, integral, arch and movable bridges are all designed in house, alongside high-rise buildings, tunnels and large-span venues. The second is that erection method is treated as a design input rather than a later problem, because BECT also does the construction engineering and builds the equipment.
Design stages
From concept to construction drawings
BECT can be engaged at any stage. Each one narrows the options the next stage has to work with, which is why early involvement usually costs least.
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Conceptual and preliminary
Turning a requirement into viable structural options, and narrowing them to a preferred arrangement.
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Tender and design documentation
Design and preparation of the tender documents on which the works are priced and awarded.
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Detailed design and drawings
Detailed design and the construction drawings the works are actually built from.
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Independent design verification
Independent checking of a design for compliance and quality assurance, whether or not BECT produced it.
Bridges
Bridge types and structural systems
Bridge form follows span, site and how the structure can be built. BECT designs across the range rather than defaulting to one familiar solution.
Cable-stayed and extradosed
Stayed structural systems for longer spans, and extradosed decks where the stays supplement a stiff girder rather than replace it.
Integral and arch bridges
Integral construction removing bearings and joints, and arch structures carrying load primarily in compression.
Movable bridges
Swing span, vertical lift and bascule types, for crossings that must open to navigation or other traffic.
Specialised and rapid-deployment
Self-adjustable mobile bridges for ports, floating bridges, and modular bridging systems for rapid deployment.
Materials
Prestressed concrete, steel-concrete composite and steel, selected on span, loading, fabrication access and the erection method available.
Beyond bridges
Buildings and other structures
The same structural engineering is applied outside bridgework, where the governing problems are comparable.
High-rise buildings
Structural systems for tall buildings, designed for strength and efficiency.
Complex steel structures
Steel structures for demanding applications, where geometry, connections or erection sequence govern the design.
Tunnels and underground infrastructure
Underground structures, designed for safety and long-term durability.
Stadiums and large-scale venues
Long-span venue structures, where roof geometry and crowd loading drive the structural arrangement.
Optimisation and existing structures
Alternative design, value engineering and assessment
Work that starts from a design or a structure that already exists, rather than from a blank sheet.
Alternative design solutions
Alternative structural arrangements developed against a reference design, where a different form or method produces a better outcome.
Value engineering
Optimising design and materials to reduce cost and improve constructability, without changing what the structure has to do.
Structural assessment and strengthening
Assessment of existing structures and design of strengthening works to extend their service life.
Repair and rehabilitation
Restoring the integrity and functionality of ageing or damaged structures.
Interfaces
Construction-stage design interfaces
A permanent design that ignores how the structure will be erected tends to be redesigned once the method is chosen. These construction methods are treated as design inputs from the outset.
The construction-stage analysis, temporary works and erection equipment that these methods require are covered by the related services below.
Output
Typical deliverables
What a design commission produces, depending on the stage at which BECT is engaged.
Swipe or scroll horizontally to view the full table.
| Stage | Deliverable |
|---|---|
| Conceptual | Structural options and preferred arrangement |
| Preliminary | Preliminary design of the selected arrangement |
| Tender | Design and preparation of tender documentation |
| Detailed design | Detailed design and construction drawings |
| Alternative design | Alternative structural solutions against a reference design |
| Value engineering | Design and material optimisation for cost and constructability |
| Verification | Independent design verification for compliance and quality assurance |
| Existing structures | Structural assessment, and strengthening design |
| Remedial works | Repair and rehabilitation design |
Gallery
Design work
Structural forms, design visualisations and analysis models across bridges, buildings and large-span venues.
Related
Related services
Construction Engineering & Temporary Works
Construction-stage analysis, temporary works design, erection method planning, geometry and precamber control, launching and heavy lifting engineering.
Special Construction Equipment
Design, fabrication and supply of self-launching bridge construction equipment in overhead and underslung configurations.
Structural Steel Fabrication
Engineered heavy steelwork delivered through an established fabrication partner, with trial assembly and quality-controlled production support.
Get in touch
Discuss your design requirement
Tell us the crossing or structure, the span arrangement and the stage you have reached, and our team will respond to your enquiry.