Practices in the Aerial Crossings of Loufan-Taiyuan Slurry Pipeline

Slurry pipeline, which is different from pipelines of other types both in design and in construction, is characterised by heavy medium transported, high operating pressure, massive abrasion and strict slope restrains. Loufan-Taiyuan Slurry Pipeline, located in rocky areas, has 12 gully crossings over its total length of 12 km. To meet construction challenges, the following practices are exercised, based on local conditions and supported by feasible technologies: ①install anchor blocks at high points to replace towers, so as to facilitate construction; ②use windguard and counter cables to reduce pipe shaking due to alternating load variation; ③adopt the combined structure of beam and light support to extand the span, reduce the number of support blocks and make best use of the insufficient clearance under the pipe bridge; ④compensate the thermal distortion of the span by tunnel pipeline sections, thereby keeping the pipeline relatively free.