Method for building over an opening via incremental launching

Abstract

Methods and systems for building a stress ribbon structure over an opening via incremental launching, a construction fixture, a support structure, an anchorage panel, and a stress ribbon structure are disclosed. Construction fixtures are constructed adjacent to a support structure. The stress ribbon structure is constructed in a staging area and in sections that are suspended between the construction fixtures. Anchorage panels at each end of a section engage a blister on the construction fixtures and the support structure. Completed sections are launched from the construction fixtures onto and along the support structure. Sections are individually constructed and launched and adjacent sections abut along a lateral edge. Adjacent sections are aligned by adjusting tension in integral support cables and their ends pivot or rotate about the blisters via a bearing system with both rotational flexibility and low friction to support sliding in the direction of launching.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A construction fixture for constructing a stress ribbon structure via incremental launching comprising:
 a foundation system configured to support loads associated with a static stress ribbon section and forces that result from launching the stress ribbon section;   a blister that is located on a top surface of the construction fixture and that is configured to engage a bearing surface of an anchorage panel of the stress ribbon section, wherein the blister extends across the top surface of the construction fixture parallel to a direction of launching; and   one or more bearings installed on a surface of the blister aid sliding of the anchorage panel along the blister during launching,   wherein the construction fixture is constructed adjacent to a support structure at a first side of an opening and opposite a second construction fixture constructed at a second side of the opening, the construction fixture supports a first end of the stress ribbon section during construction of the stress ribbon section, and the stress ribbon section is launched by one or more of pushing or pulling the stress ribbon section to slide the anchorage panel thereof along the blister,   wherein launching the stress ribbon section slides the anchorage panel from the construction fixture onto the support structure, and   wherein the construction fixture is removed from its position adjacent to the support structure after the stress ribbon section is launched onto the support structure thereby leaving the support structure to independently support the stress ribbon section.   
     
     
         2 . A support structure for receiving and supporting a stress ribbon structure constructed via incremental launching comprising:
 a pair of opposing walls that form opposite sides of an opening and that are configured to support loads associated with supporting a plurality of static stress ribbon sections and forces that result from launching the stress ribbon sections;   a blister that is located on a top surface of each of the opposing walls and extending along at least a portion of the length of each opposing wall, the blister configured to engage a bearing surface of an anchorage panel of a stress ribbon section; and   one or more bearings installed on a surface of the blister that aid sliding of the anchorage panel along the blister,   wherein a plurality of stress ribbon sections are constructed and launched onto the opposing walls by one or more of pushing or pulling each of the stress ribbon sections in a direction parallel to the length of the opposing walls to slide the anchorage panels along the blisters, each of the opposing walls supports an opposite end of each of the stress ribbon sections.   
     
     
         3 . The support structure of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of stress ribbon sections are constructed and launched individually, launching of a subsequent stress ribbon section causes the subsequent stress ribbon section to abut a previously launched stress ribbon section and slides the anchorage panels of the subsequent and previous stress ribbon sections along the blisters of the opposing walls. 
     
     
         4 . The support structure of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of stress ribbon sections abutted together form a stress ribbon structure that covers the opening between the opposing walls. 
     
     
         5 . An anchorage panel for a stress ribbon section comprising:
 a downwardly extending protuberance that provides a bearing surface for engaging a first blister of a construction fixture and a second blister of a support structure, the first and second blisters including an upwardly extending component that engages the bearing surface, the engagement of the bearing surface and the first and second blisters obstructs movement of the anchorage panel toward an opening formed by the support structure;   a cable duct extending through the anchorage panel along a length thereof and configured to accept a cable therein; and   a cable anchorage system that secures the cable within the cable duct and allows tensioning of the cable,   wherein the anchorage panel forms an end of a stress ribbon section that includes a second anchorage panel at an opposite end of the stress ribbon section, a plurality of cables extending between the anchorage panel and the second anchorage panel, and a plurality of deck panels installed on the plurality of cables, and   wherein the anchorage panel is slideable along the first and second blisters to allow launching of the stress ribbon section over the opening.   
     
     
         6 . A stress ribbon structure constructed via incremental launching comprising:
 a support structure for supporting a stress ribbon section, the support structure including a pair of opposing walls that define opposite sides of an opening and that are configured to support loads associated with supporting a plurality of static stress ribbon sections and forces that result from launching the plurality of stress ribbon sections, wherein each of the opposing walls includes a blister that is located on a top surface thereof and extending along at least a portion of a length of each opposing wall;   a plurality of stress ribbon sections that include a pair of anchorage panels, a plurality of cables, and a plurality of deck panels, each of the plurality of stress ribbon sections having a length and a width, the length being at least twice the width and, the plurality of stress ribbons sections are abutted together along their length to form a stress ribbon structure that covers the opening between the opposing walls,   wherein the anchorage panels include a downwardly extending protuberance that provides a bearing surface for engaging the blister of the support structure, the blister including an upwardly extending component that engages the bearing surface, the engagement of the bearing surface and the blister obstructs movement of the anchorage panel toward the opening and allows the anchorage panel to slide along the blister in a direction perpendicular to the length of the stress ribbon section.