Prefabricated support and covering structure, particularly for constructing tunnels, bridges and the like

A prefabricated support and covering structure particularly for making artificial tunnels, small bridges and the like, comprising a plurality of modular bodies, in the form of a polygonal section having an outer convex surface and an inner concave surface when disposed side-by-side in succession along the longitudinal axis of the structure, each modular body including a plurality of prefabricated panels of reinforced concrete having adjacent end faces, each panel being connected to the adjacent panel by articulation means comprised of a plurality of connecting reinforcement rods extending without interruption from each panel to the adjacent panel to allow relative rotation between adjacent panels from a coplanar disposition to an erect, folded postion in which portions of the end faces of adjacent panels are brought into mutual contact, the improvement comprising:

• said connecting reinforcement rods having portions between each pair of adjacent panels which are inclined to each other and intersect on a common straight line substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the structure, the said straight line forming an articulation hinge axis,
• said connecting reinforcement rods extending from each panel to the adjacent panel being disposed in proximity to the outer convex surface of the prefabricated structure,
• each of said end faces of the adjacent panels being inwardly inclined and being provided, in proximity to the concave inner surface of the prefabricated structure, with a front edge which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the prefabricated structure;
• the two front edges of each pair of adjacent panels being substantially in longitudinal contact with each other so as to constitute a reciprocal abutment and to define, with the respective adjacent surfaces of the said end faces, a longitudinal space filled with a binding material cast on site, and
• wherein said panels of each modular body have lateral faces spaced from the lateral faces adjacent modular bodies and have lateral flanges spaced apart and disposed substantially parallel to a polygonal line which defines the cross section of the prefabricated structure, said lateral flanges of one modular body being substantially in contact upon erection with the corresponding lateral flanges of the adjacent modular body so as to form a space between said lateral faces and lateral flanges extending parallel to the said polygonal line and interposed between the two adjacent modular bodies, the said space being filled with binding material cast on site.