Insights of FPLM for Long-Viaduct Construction in Taiwan High-Speed Railway Project: Overcoming the Interfaces

The FPLM, Full-span Precast and Launching Method, is selected as the main construction method for the long viaducts in the Taiwan High-Speed Railway (THSR) project. In order to maximize the advantage of this method, ?design for construction? should be emphasized. It means that construction knowledge and experience should be taken into consideration among all interfaces and details in preplanning stage. In this paper, the authors identified the key factors affecting the time and cost effectiveness of FPLM construction, including production management, equipment selection and structural requirements. Discovering these facts, several important constructability ideas that should be implemented in planning, design and construction stages respectively are proposed. With continuously discovering and resolving the interfaces in construction, the authors believe that ?one girder per day with one set of equipment? is an achievable goal for FPLM construction in THSR project.