| Project | HCM CITY URBAN RAILWAY LINE 1 |
| Contractor | SUMITOMO - CIENCO 6 Joint Venture |
| Supervision consultant | NJPT |
| Concrete supplier |
Le Phan Construction Co., Ltd Saigon RDC Co., Ltd Foreign Trade Concrete Joint Stock Company |
| Construction location | Ho Chi Minh City |
| Product used | MVN - 21ESM (Mighty 21ESM) |
Development History of U-Beams
U-beam concrete (also known as U-shaped concrete beams) was first developed in the 1980s by the Texas Department of Transportation in the United States.
U-beam concrete is typically designed and constructed to withstand the pressure and weight of subways and other heavy loads. Notably, U-beam concrete is a structural form widely adopted by contractors and investors around the world, especially in the construction of underground railway systems such as Metro lines.
With its U-shaped structure, the U-beam is commonly used to support and guide railway tracks, ensuring the Metro system operates in a stable and safe manner for both passengers and operators.
Today, U-beam concrete is widely used globally thanks to its superior structural performance and more economical cost compared to traditional beam types.
The U-Beam Concrete component of Metro Line No. 1 was implemented as part of the Elevated Section and Station Construction Package.
The Metro Line utilizes U-beam concrete for the construction of above-ground sections of the underground railway system. This structural form helps guide and stabilize the tracks while ensuring that trains operate safely and efficiently.
Key Specifications:
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The U-beam component is part of the elevated section in Package No. 2, executed by the EPC general contractor – a joint venture between Sumitomo Corporation and Cienco6. This section spans 17.1 km in length and includes a total of 4,250 U-shaped beam segments.
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Each U-beam was designed with a concrete strength of 45 MPa, and the construction requirements included:
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Workability retention for 3 hours
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Early strength of 16–20 MPa within 12 hours (to allow for mold removal).
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Throughout the production process, not a single U-beam segment was rejected or damaged, earning high praise from the contractor and consultant for the consistency and quality of the work.
Supply Capability:
The entire Metro Line No. 1 project, and particularly the U-beam components, exclusively used concrete admixtures supplied by ICCI. ICCI's products met all specialized technical requirements and demonstrated strong supply capacity. As a result, the client highly appreciated ICCI’s professionalism, service attitude, and 24/7 readiness to deliver materials, ensuring that project timelines were never compromised.
Customer Approval Letter:
Customer Appreciation Letter
Several images illustrating the compressive strength of concrete:
