The development process of the Melan method for more than 100 years was reviewed, and the corresponding technical terms as well as their connotations and denotations were discussed. The application status of Melan arch bridges in China was investigated and analyzed, and the key technical issues and the development experience of the Melan method were summarized. The research status and development direction of the techniques employed in the Melan method and Melan arch structure were clarified. Research results show that the Melan method originated from Europe and America in the late 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century, and then it was spread to China and Japan in the second half of the 20th century. Its development in China can be divided into three stages according to the types of embedded arch frameworks: semi-stiff arch framework, (general) concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) arch framework, and strong CFST arch framework. The Melan arch bridge is a kind of concrete arch bridge. The embedded arch framework used by the Melan method is mainly for the construction, while its reinforcement effect on the concrete is auxiliary after the bridge is completed. A total of 57 Melan arch bridges were built or under construction in China by May 2021. All concrete arch bridges in China with a span of greater than 250 m are built with this method since 2007, of which the largest span is 600 m. The Melan arch bridge is mainly applied in highway bridges in mountainous areas of southwest China, and its application in railway bridges increases significantly in recent years. The deck bridges with braced twin ribs are mainly applied. The rise-to-span ratio is concentrated in the range of 1/4-1/6, and the catenary is widely used as the arch axis. The area ratio of cross-section of the embedded CFST arch to the cross-section of the main arch, the diameter of steel tube, and the strengths of steel tube and concrete materials increase with time and the rise in span. In the application of the Melan method, three factors should be comprehensively considered, namely, the limited steel consumption, controlled mechanical behavior of the structure, and simple construction. The embedded arch framework developes from the earliest section steel to the truss-like structure and then to the box section and truss structure. The truss structure is commonly used today. The cantilever method is mostly used in the erection of the steel-tube truss structure, and the swing method is also used in various forms. To reduce the steel consumption and control the structural stress and deformation during the construction, the CFST truss structure is innovatively introduced as the embedded arch framework in China, and the load adjustment methods are adopted, including preloading, auxiliary anchor cables, multi-point balanced pouring, and stay cables. In recent years, the pouring ring number for the encased concrete in the cross-section significantly reduces to three or less due to the application of the strong CFST arch framework. In terms of the application of the Melan method, the researches on materials, structure, and construction technology focusing on the strong CFST arch framework should be further conducted. Regarding the Melan arch structure, the researches on the mechanical performance of steel-tube-reinforced concrete structures, ultra-high-performance materials, and steel web(rod)-concrete composite arches should be strengthened. Meanwhile, the durability of the Melan arch bridge should be thoroughly explored for the design of new bridges and the repair as well as the maintenance of existing bridges. 5 tabs, 18 figs, 85 refs.
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