Photovoltaic Pergola anchored with DYWIDAG Bars, Photovoltaic Pergola Barcelona, Spain

Photovoltaic Pergola anchored with DYWIDAG Bars

Photovoltaic Pergola, Barcelona, Sant Adriá de Besós, Barcelona, Spain

The "Fórum niversal de las Culturas 2004" took place in Barcelona from May 9 to September 26, 2004. The three main themes of the forum were: cultural understanding, social justice and sustained development; in particular the strategies, ways and solution approaches for the problems arising in the metropolitan cities in the world in connection with progressing globalization.

One of the most extraordinary structures which was built in the future harbor of Sant Adirá de Besós within the frame of the Forum 2004, was the photovoltaic pergola. The pergola is part of an extensive urban restructuring plan of the coast strip of Barcelona at the border to the neighbouring community of Sant Adriá de Besós.

The pergola was supported by 4 concrete columns of different height: The highest column measures nearly 43 m, the lowest 19.46 m. The concrete columns have a thickness of nearly 2.0 m.
The photovoltaic panels were supported on a metal grid, composed of two 112m long girders with an average height of 3.50m which are connected to each other by a 50.66m long and 1.30m high cross strut. They had an overall area of 5,704m2. DYWIDAG Post-Tensioning Bars Ø40 and 47 mm as well as GEWI ® Threadbars Ø32 and 40 mm were used as splice components between the metal grid and the columns. The post-tensioning bars were tensioned to 700 to 1,250kN.

Double corrosion protection system ensures the corrosion resistance of all post-tensioning tendons: i.e. the post-tensioning tendons were first filled with an anticorrosive agent and provided with shrinkable sleeves, and subsequently grouted in a PE sheathing with cement grout or an anticorrosive agent. The tendon heads were protected by caps filled with an anticorrosive agent.

Already during the planning phase with regard to the technically proven question of the connection between the columns and the metal grid as well as during the construction work phase, DYWIDAG SISTEMAS CONSTRUCTIVOS (DSC), Spain, cooperated closely with the companies responsible for the design (Esteyco) and the construction work (UTE Conexión Forum Necso-Rubao y Urssa).

The works for the photovoltaic structure were begun in May 2003 and completed in February 2004.