Skywalk Allgäu Tree-top Walk in Scheidegg, Germany

Structures Analysed with Dlubal Software

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Entire structure displayed in RFEM (© Meyer+Schubart)

Suspension bridge construction of path (© skywalk allgäu)

Look-out tower (© skywalk allgäu)

Customer Project

4 March 2013

Germany RFEM Steel Structures Bridges Towers and Masts

Structural Engineering	Meyer+Schubart Wunstorf, Germany www.meyer-schubart.de
Construction	Biedenkapp Stahlbau GmbH Wangen im Allgäu, Germany www.biedenkapp-stahlbau.de
Architect	Karlheinz Thurm Stetten, Germany
Investor	skywalk allgäu gemeinnützige GmbH Scheidegg, Germany www.skywalk-allgaeu.de

The dimensions shown below indicate the dimensions of the total system.

The skywalk allgäu is a path with a length of about 500 m, installed in the height of 15 to 30 m above ground, leading through the treetops of the Allgäu Alps. The path construction built at approx. 1,000 m above sea level consists of cable-stayed and suspension bridge constructions.

Furthermore, it is supported by 14 towers guyed with cables. The central point and major tourist attraction is the look-out tower which is 50 m high, offering visitors a wonderful view over the Alps, the Prealps and Lake Constance.

The structural analysis of the entire steel construction was carried out with RFEM by the Dlubal customer Meyer+Schubart.

Structural System

The look-out construction has a triangular floor plan and pipe columns with a diameter of 508 mm which are coupled with tubular cross bars and bracings in several planes.

At a level of 30 m, the tower is additionally stabilized by full locked cables PV 150 manufactured by the German company Pfeifer. By using the stairway or elevator with glass panes visitors can access the path.

Another tower construction, which is smaller having a height of approx. 40 m, is also based on a triangular floor plan (on the right in the picture above). The tower is significant for the stiffening of the structural system and represents a fixed-point for the connected access to the stairway (bridle path). The bridle path is a cable-stayed construction with three pylons that is less prone to vibration compared to the construction of the suspension bridge, which is especially important for a safe use of the stairway.

Depending on the span lengths, the suspension cables of the suspension bridge construction have a diameter of 28.3 to 36.3 mm. To prevent the guy lines with a length of up to 68 m from oscillating due to aerodynamic effects, they are partially stabilized with auxiliary cables which are thinner than the main cables.

Finally, it is worth noting that the German company Biedenkapp Stahlbau has won the M&T Metal Construction Price of the year 2011 in the category for steel constructions.