Bridges
Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, has no problem anymore with strong side winds, thanks to special KONI Shock Absorbers.
The 800 meter long bridge is now equipped with special designed shock absorbers to prevent the (32) steel cables from vibrating due to strong winds and heavy rain showers.
On each cable – the longest being 190 meters – no less than 2 double acting, twin tube hydraulic shock absorbers are installed; each in their own stainless steel damper housing. These dampers from each cable connected to the deck of the bridge at a carefully pre-determined angle.
The bridge is an important waterway crossing for pedestrians, cyclists, passenger cars, commercial vehicles and the tram street cars from downtown Rotterdam to the "Head of the South", being the landmark and figure head of the new re-developed residential and business office area of the City.
This special project was not the first "KONI-bridge". Already in 1966, some 106 very special (125kg each) KONI dampers were installed on the 5000 meter long Zealand-bridge in the southeast of the Netherlands to control the designed crimping and extending of the bridge elements. They also prevent the bridge from damage, which may occur when the heavy road trucks were to stop, all at the same time, when the bridge is open letting the ships pass through.