Bridge PC Wind Barrier Project-Hangzhou
The Hangzhou Bay Bridge is one of China’s landmark cross-sea infrastructure projects.
Due to the bridge’s unique offshore environment and extreme wind exposure conditions, the project required an advanced wind barrier system capable of delivering long-term structural stability, impact resistance, and weather durability.
At the time of construction, the application of polycarbonate (PC) wind barrier panels was considered a pioneering engineering solution. There were no established industry standards or manufacturing specifications available domestically or internationally, making the project a significant technical challenge for all participating manufacturers and contractors.
Installation completed in October 2007, covering approximately 6,700 meters of bridge infrastructure.
Products
PC Wind Barrier
Sector
Bridge infrastructure
System Requirements
The project specified strict technical and manufacturing requirements for the PC wind barrier system, including:
- Panel thickness tolerance: (0, +0.3 mm)
- Anti-aging treatment on all machined panel edges after forming
- UV protective layer thickness not less than 70 μm per surface
- Uniform UV layer distribution across the entire panel surface
- Use of high-performance polycarbonate (PC) solid sheet material
- Wind tunnel testing verification under design wind loads
- No visible cracking or panel disengagement permitted during testing
Key Technical Features
High Wind Resistance – Wind tunnel testing confirmed that the PC wind barrier system maintained structural integrity under specified design wind loads without visible cracking, deformation, or panel slippage.
UV and Weather Durability – A high-performance UV-resistant surface layer exceeding 70 μm provided long-term protection against ultraviolet exposure and environmental aging in coastal conditions.
High Impact Performance – The polycarbonate material delivered excellent impact resistance, ductility, and structural reliability suitable for bridge infrastructure applications.
Precision Manufacturing – Strict dimensional tolerances ensured accurate installation, stable aerodynamic performance, and reliable system alignment across the entire bridge section.
Project Outcome
The Hangzhou Bay Bridge PC Wind Barrier Project became one of the earliest large-scale applications of transparent polycarbonate wind barrier systems in bridge engineering.
The successful completion of the project demonstrated the feasibility, durability, and engineering reliability of PC wind barrier technology in extreme coastal infrastructure environments, establishing an important benchmark for future bridge wind protection systems in China.