FRP Bridges 1

These applications are finding a foothold in the infrastructure market. As a proponent of composite materials I am happy to see that. As a structural engineer, I am dissapointed that much of this work is or appears to be going toward an option that is ordered from a manufacturer. This, of course, takes the fun out of it for those of us with experience in composite mechanics.

Since the manufacturing process is expensive and only a few of those companies available with fewer involved in infrastructure it makes sense to have a product that is specified as opposed to engineered for each application. In the long run I see these applications going by way of the three-sided culverts. Yes, they make sense and easily constructed and placed but not many agencies use them. Perhaps that is a comment on the lobbying process rather than virtue of the new material.

Regards,
Qshake

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Hi rd78,

To my knowledge, modern composite material construction has been used successfully in the design and construction of at least two footbridges. One at Sherbrooke University in Quebec, and the other in Seoul, South Korea. The one in Korea is a beautiful 120m arc span made of "ultra high performance concrete".

Regards

VOD

To further the note by VOD, composite material superstructures have been used in many locations here in the US. California, Virginia, Missouri and Kansas just to name a few states which are actively supporting research and applications in this area. Most all applications are of a composite deck (single, simple span) which has replaced foot bridges or short span culverts.

Other applications include passive column wraps for seismic retrofitting. This, of course, is being used in California, Missouri and Illinois to my knowledge. Hexcel-Fyfe and Watson-Bowman are involved in these applications as are others.

Most all of the applications involved are situated near a university which is greatly involved in the research and application. Most of which comes from aerospace industry and so KSU, KU, Virgina Tech, UMR, USD and others which are also associated with giants like Lockheed-Martin and Boeing are usually active.

Regards,
Qshake

Eng-Tips Forums:Real Solutions for Real Problems Really Quick.

Texas DOT just did one a few months ago, in the Corpus Christi district. I'm pretty sure the design came from the University of Texas.

Hg

rd78,

ISIS Canada as well as thier international partners are involved in this area. They have developed a design manual which is used here in Canada.

I am aware of a few bridges which have one span composed of Steel free decks (utilizing FRP as the reinforcing) localy. These structures are being monitored by ISIS in real time. Curently there is one Bridge which is being designed in our inventory which is proposed of being entirely steel free utilizing ISIS desing manual for the design.

For more information you could contact ISIS. The canadian link is
I hope this helps.

Qshake,

As always I enjoy reading your threads and responces! Keep up the good work and encouragement that you provide.

Andy

While it isn't a bridge design per say, we have used FRP to reinforce existing bridges or to improve load capacities. CalTrans also uses a lot of field-applied CFR to bolster the crack critical regions of their substructures.

It's ancient history, but structures were one of the first industries to use composite materials -- concrete and steel !

Regards, RAF

Somewhere in Texas, one of the tollways, they're using fiberglass rebar in the pavement of the tollbooths because the steel messes with some of the automatic toll equipment. Higher fact-to-handwaving ratio available upon request.

Hg

There is a very interesting conference held in London every two years on the subject of FRP for the Civil and Structural Engineering Industries. Also showed was a presentation about the first all FRP road bridge in the U.K. They drive a 50 ton tank across to proove its strength. Cheers DW

Check out this link. Dr. Nabil Grace has been heavily involved in this area. An actual bridge was constructed in Southfield, Michigan.