For the cladding of bridge pylons at a height of 320 meters, the façade panels needed to be both lightweight and strong. Due to the substructure requirements and the challenges of handling at such great heights, each panel's weight was capped at a maximum of 110 kg/m². Achieving this weight limit was impossible with conventional reinforced concrete, necessitating a more advanced solution.

The engineering team at solidian took on the challenge, meticulously calculating the statics and developing an optimal geometry for the panels. They designed panels with maximum dimensions of 3.0 meters by 4.5 meters, and an impressive thickness of only 30 millimeters. To meet the stringent weight and strength requirements, the team utilized a hybrid reinforcement made of glass and carbon mats.

This innovative approach allowed them to achieve the desired parameters, ensuring that the panels were both lightweight and durable. The use of optimal hybrid reinforcement made of glass and carbon mats provided the necessary structural support while keeping the panels light enough for practical use in such a demanding application. This solution not only protected the building but also facilitated easier handling and installation at extreme heights, showcasing the advanced capabilities of solidian’s engineering and material expertise.

Key facts

Application Bridges / Facade panel
Product  solidian GRID carbon, solidian GRID glass
Year  2016
Location Turkiye
Max. panel weight 110 kg / m²

Large-scale and high performance

At 320 m, the pillars of the giant sized bridge over the river Bosporus in Istanbul are the highest in the world. The Turkish Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge over the Bosporus, which connects Asia with Europe, was opened in Istanbul in August 2016. For the construction of the pylons, curtain façades with reinforcements
from the Albstadt-based specialists for textile-reinforced concrete, solidian were used, which were realized for the Turkish company Fibrobeton. The giant-sized Turkish project, which bristles with superlatives from both an architectural and structural point of view, was as-if-made for the use of textilereinforced concrete, because without the innovative material, the façade-configuration of the pylons would not have been possible from a technical perspective. In addition to the sophisticated design of the combined suspension and cable-stayed bridge due to its height and weight, above all else, it was the extremely high wind load of up to 300 kg/m² that made the structure into a challenge in terms of both the statics and the assembly.

Number of elements approx. 700 Max. dimension 3.00 m x 4.50 m Prefabricated parts facility Fibrobeton Solidian also played a supportive and consultative on-site role during the production of the slabs with the use of solidian GRID at the Turkish prefabricated parts facility Fibrobeton, allowing the assembly work to be completed on schedule. The non-corrosion product solution that was realized fulfills the required sustainability of 100 years and provides emphatic confirmation of the potential of textile-reinforced concrete as the material of the future.