FIBER-REINFORCED POLYMER HONEYCOMB SHORT SPAN BRIDGE FOR RAPID INSTALLATION

This Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) project designed, fabricated and tested a lightweight composite bridge using structural panels made of a proprietary fiber-reinforced polymer honeycomb. Work in Stage 1 involved design and bench-scale testing of a composite bridge section for mechanical and structural properties and safety aspects and for developing design specifications for a full-scale on-site erection. Stage 2 involved fabrication and field testing of a bridge panel under highway conditions. A center bridge panel made from fiberglass composite honeycomb with a polymer concrete wear surface, was constructed and tested under actual loaded trucks at No-Name Creek three miles west of Russell, Kansas. The panel was 23 ft 3 in. (7.1 m) long, 9 ft (2.7 m) wide, and 22 in. (0.56 m) thick and weighed 8000 lb (3629 kg). The unsupported span was 21 ft 3 in. (6.5 m). The loads and stresses were monitored, starting at approximately 10,000 lb (4526 kg) axle load and increasing by approximately 10,000 lb (4526 kg) to a maximum load of 62,580 lb (28,386 kg). All deflections were found to be within 5% of design predictions. The successful performance test proves the practical feasibility and commercial viability of the concept.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/archive/studies/idea/finalreports/highway/NCHRP030_Final_Report.pdf
• 
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This NCHRP-IDEA investigation was conducted by Kansas Structural Composites, Inc., Russell, Kansas. The original project title was Rapid Replacement Composite Bridge No. 1. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Plunkett, J D
• Publication Date: 1997-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 28 p.
• Serial:
  • NCHRP-IDEA Program Project Final Report
  • Publisher: National Cooperative Highway Research Program
• Publication flags:

  Open Access (libre)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Axle load force; Bridge construction; Bridge design; Bridges; Composite structures; Construction; Deflection tests; Fiber reinforced materials; Fiber reinforced plastics; Field tests; Lightweight materials; Polymer fibers; Structural design; Technological innovations
• Identifier Terms: National Cooperative Highway Research Program
• Uncontrolled Terms: Composite bridges
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Design; Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I35: Miscellaneous Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00740752
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: NCHRP-IDEA Project 030
• Contract Numbers: NCHRP-96-ID030
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Sep 26 2001 12:00AM