This paper reports experimental data for the dynamic properties (i.e. first fundamental flexural frequency, damping ratio, comfort class) of ten web-core sandwich panel FRP composite footbridges in Belgium, which contributes to the assessment of relevant input parameters for design and assessment of this promising bridge type, quickly gaining popularity in recent years. The data is gathered based on smartphone accelerometers, enabling easy, quick, affordable, and abundant measurements, while at the same time yielding reliable experimental values. Given the relatively short spans, the heel and excitation test methods are used, rather than the ambient vibration method. The tests indicate damping ratios of one to three percent, which are strongly dependent on the number of people on the bridge during the measurement. Additionally, comfort analysis tests with up to 58 people (0.5 P/m²) were conducted on five out of the ten bridges. The results indicate that the current design guidelines for pedestrian comfort analysis are overconservative and do not reflect the effect of pedestrian-induced damping, which is especially apparent for this bridge type given its very low modal mass and relatively low damping ratio.
At the start of the C-Bridge project in 2018, the number of fibre-reinforced composite bridges in the Flanders region of Belgium was limited to a handful. These limited achievements were largely due to the poor knowledge of clients (public and private), project managers, design engineers, and contractors, which made the option of composites either unknown or still viewed with a certain degree of suspicion. In addition, there were no standards at the Belgian or European level for the design of such constructions. The C-Bridge project (roadmap into design, guidelines, and execution of composite bridges in Flanders) aimed to stimulate the design, the realization and the construction of composite bridges in Flanders by providing the necessary knowledge to the construction sector in the most suitable form. This knowledge consists of the current state of the art of composites in bridge construction, selection criteria for composite bridges, recommendations for specification texts, and in situ testing of composite bridges and structural and vibration analysis. This C-Bridge project should allow the awarding authorities and contractors to be able to make informed choices regarding fibre-reinforced polymer (fibre composite) bridges but also offer the possibility of making the necessary transformation to this new and promising material to various Flemish companies. The results of the project enable Flemish clients to draw up specifications for FRP bridges in the correct manner. Moreover, they can correctly interpret the calculation notes made available and make a correct assessment. The Flemish engineering firms, on the other hand, will be able to make their own designs of FRP bridges and bridge components. They can also build up a value chain within Flanders with Flemish contractors and producers. From the producers and suppliers’ point of view, the results of the project will lead to a clearer profile of their products on the public and private market. Finally, the general contractors and constructors will be armed to withstand the challenges that FRP bridges entail to subcontractors in terms of execution, follow-up, delivery, and maintenance. The findings are helpful for the acceptance of fibre-reinforced composite bridges as an alternative to timber, steel, or concrete bridges and should generate a market expansion for FRP in the traditionally conservative bridge-building sector first in Flanders and later internationally.
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<p>This paper focuses on the structural behavior of tiled laminate composites. Such laminates, in which the plies are not parallel to the outer surfaces are found in GFRP bridge deck panels. The technology is developed for the construction of robust GFRP panels useful in highly loaded structures such as bridges or lock gates. In civil structures, the drawback in traditional FRP sandwich structures has always been debonding of skin and core. Such a debonding problem may occur after unintentional impact, followed by fatigue loading. Through the concept of using overlapping Z-shaped and two-flanged web laminates, alternating with polyurethane foam cores, debonding is no longer possible in vacuum infused GFRP bridge deck panels. In such panels, the fibers in the upper and lower skins as well as in the vertical webs run in all directions, rendering a resin-dominated crack propagation impossible. As a result of the integration of core and skin reinforcement, a skin material is created in which the reinforcement is not parallel to the outer surfaces, but tiled. Based on experimental results and numerical simulations the relevance of tiled laminates for civil applications is demonstrated.</p>
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