Solving complex noise barrier highway anchorage in Hungary
To overcome these limitations, structural engineer Tamás Hornyák of Uniqueplan Kft., working with Hilti anchoring specialist Gábor Hanzel, developed a validated workflow that combines conventional anchor design tools with nonlinear concrete analysis to deliver buildable, code-compliant solutions under extreme loading conditions.
\[ \textsf{\textit{\footnotesize{Vertical section of the bridge parapet}}}\]
About the project
As part of a major highway upgrade, noise barrier walls had to be installed atop bridge parapets to reduce traffic-related sound pollution. The barriers, tall and heavily loaded by wind, were positioned on concrete structures with limited dimensions and reinforcement. The project's main design office, CÉH+, provided the core layout, including barrier heights, column spacing (every 2 meters), and relevant load combinations. An additional layer of complexity was introduced by the national Hungarian road standard, which specified wind loads up to three times greater than Eurocode, particularly for bridges over rivers or roads, making standard anchoring design nearly impossible to pass by conventional methods.
Engineering challenges
The main difficulty was verifying post-installed anchors placed near the edge of existing concrete, under high lateral forces. Although the parapets contained reinforcement, Eurocode restricts how rebar can be considered in such designs. As a result, Hilti Profis Engineering often returned failures, even when engineers believed the real structure should perform adequately.
\[ \textsf{\textit{\footnotesize{Anchoring near the edge calculated in Hilti Profis}}}\]
Attempts to overdesign by increasing plate size or anchor quantity felt excessive and unsatisfying. Cast-in alternatives were more calculable but difficult to implement on-site. The need was clear: a reliable method to include existing reinforcement in verification, without violating code or compromising constructability.
\[ \textsf{\textit{\footnotesize{Anchoring modeled in IDEA StatiCa Connection}}}\]
Solutions and results
Recognizing that overdesign or increasing dimensions was not a sustainable solution, Tamás Hornyák devised a new workflow that bridged the gaps between software capabilities and engineering reality. The process began with preliminary anchor design in Hilti Profis Engineering, which flagged critical conditions near concrete edges. From there, the design was exported into IDEA StatiCa Connection, where full structural checks including stiffness analysis of the steel columns and baseplates were conducted.
\[ \textsf{\textit{\footnotesize{Results of the analysis in IDEA StatiCa Connection}}}\]
When the anchoring failed in this setup, Tamás moved the design into IDEA StatiCa Detail, enabling nonlinear finite element modeling of the entire anchoring region. Here, the existing concrete reinforcement from the bridge parapets was modeled in detail, matching real reinforcement layouts based on provided drawings. This allowed capturing both concrete tension failure and the anchorage behavior of reinforcement.
\[ \textsf{\textit{\footnotesize{Anchoring modeled and reinforced in IDEA StatiCa Detail}}}\]
Conclusion
The nonlinear 3D analysis, incorporating realistic material behavior, no tensile strength in concrete, and zero internal friction, enabled the anchoring system to pass all relevant code checks. The solution not only satisfied Eurocode requirements but also accommodated the heightened wind loads of the national road standard. The result was a robust, safe, and realistic anchoring design that was also validated by the main design office, CÉH+, which later adopted and supported the approach.
\[ \textsf{\textit{\footnotesize{Deformation results in IDEA StatiCa Detail}}}\]
This practical yet rigorous workflow has since been demonstrated by Gábor Hanzel to other engineers facing similar challenges with post-installed anchors, especially in Eastern European infrastructure projects. Its success highlights the power of nonlinear analysis tools when conventional methods fail to reflect real-world conditions.
\[ \textsf{\textit{\footnotesize{Stress flow in concrete in IDEA StatiCa Detail}}}\]
About UNIQUE-PLAN Kft
FIRST-PLAN Design, Service and Trading Kft. was founded in 1993. Since 2003, the company's main scope of activity has been: design of bridge structures and retaining walls. Our scope of activity extends to the design, expertise and dimensioning of other civil engineering structures. Our company's partner is UNIQUE-PLAN Kft. with the same ownership background. With their trained and experienced engineers, they are ready to design engineering structures economically and aesthetically. Their company's motto: Where thoughts become plans!
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