CONSTRUCTION OF THE ASSET POLYMER COMPOSITE BRIDGE FOR HEAVY TRAFFIC LOADS

The ASSET bridge project, founded by the European Commission, began in 1998 and was completed in the autumn of 2002. The project has in brief covered the design, manufacture and construction of a fully polymer composite traffic bridge. The reasons to build a polymer composite bridge are related to the problems of an ageing infrastructure and the need for upgrading. In addition, in cases where the speed of construction or reduced weight are critical factors, the short construction time and low weight for a polymer composite bridge will be beneficial. The size of the prototype bridge is 7 x 10 m and the bridge consists of four rectangular longitudinal polymer composite main girders manufactured of GFRP (Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer) stiffened with carbon fibre flanges and a full composite bridge deck manufactured of GFRP. The bridge deck is built up of pultruded framework sections bonded together with an epoxy adhesive. The deck is then bonded to the girders. This paper describes the benefits of a polymer composite bridge compared with traditional bridges. Furthermore the manufacturing and construction processes are presented. In particular the focus is placed on the bonding procedure on site. The paper also includes a brief presentation of the full-scale loading on site. For the covering abstract see ITRD E122906.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0947644539
• Corporate Authors:

  ENGINEERING TECHNICS PRESS

  46 CLUNY GARDENS
  EDINBURGH,   United Kingdom  EH10 6BN
• Authors:
  • Taljsten, B
  • OLOFSSON, I
  • Hejll, A
• Publication Date: 2003

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 12 p.
• Serial:
  • PROCEEDINGS OF THE 10TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION - STRUCTURAL FAULTS AND REPAIR CONFERENCE 2003, HELD LONDON, JULY 2003 - CD ROM
  • Publisher: ENGINEERING TECHNICS PRESS

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Adhesion; Bridges; Carbon; Composite materials; Conferences; Construction; Design; Fibers; Glass; Loads; Polymers; Weight
• ITRD Terms: 5942: Adhesion; 3455: Bridge; 7158: Carbon; 9005: Composite; 8525: Conference; 3655: Construction; 9011: Design (overall design); 4557: Fibre; 4547: Glass; 5567: Load; 7482: Polymer; 5485: Weight
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Design;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00982825
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• ISBN: 0-947644-53-9
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Dec 2 2004 12:00AM