GBeam Bridge Girder Pultrusion: Section Design and Optimization

The GBeam – a fiber reinforced polymer tub-shaped bridge girder developed by the University of Maine and licensed for manufacture to AIT Bridges– has emerged as a viable replacement for traditional steel and prestressed girders in short to medium span bridges. GBeam manufacture is time and labor intensive, requiring many production steps to be done by hand, leading to low production through-put. As a possible method for accelerating production, the feasibility of producing GBeams by automated pultrusion was investigated. This involved first defining a set of geometric and material parameters to confine the design space, and then creating a series of representative designs for GBeams to be used in hypothetical, generic bridges. This led to a series of generic pultruded GBeam designs from which feasibility could be assessed. Ultimately, the limitations pultrusion places on GBeam geometry, combined with the significant initial capital investment required to begin production deemed pultrusion infeasible at this time, and prompts the search for alternative acceleration methods.

• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/88888
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This document was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Maine, Orono

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  Boardman Hall
  Orono, ME  United States  04469-5711

  AIT Bridges

  55 Baker Blvd
  Suite 205
  Brewer, Maine  United States  04412

  Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center

  University of Maine
  Orono, ME  United States  04469

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Schanck, Andrew
  • 0000-0002-1768-722X
  • Davids, William G
  • 0000-0002-9602-1046
• Publication Date: 2022-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 67p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge construction; Bridge design; Composite materials; Fiber reinforced polymers; Girders
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Design; Highways; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01980981
• Record Type: Publication
• Contract Numbers: 69A3551847101
• Files: UTC, NTL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Feb 24 2026 9:00AM