Rapid Beam Replacement of Chongqing Monorail: Emergency Beam, Process, and Technologies

Chongqing monorail line 2 , the first straddle monorail transit in China, was opened to public in 2005. Most of the track beams in the monorail system are prestressed concrete (PC) beams. Because of its complicated alignment and long construction time, once a PC beam is destroyed, the whole line will be out of operation for a long time. To respond to the potential threats on PC beam, a research project was conducted to solve the problem of rapid beam replacement. To achieve the research objectives, the research team first introduced a new type of prefabricated emergency beam, which can be temporarily used to shorten the idling time of the monorail system. Then the research team developed the process of rapid beam replacement for PC beam accident. Next, two key technologies, emergency beam assembling and installation, were studied so that the rescue works would be carried out successfully. This research work could ultimately enhance the capability of rapid beam replacement after extreme events.