Badania pożarowe elementów z kompozytów FRP przewidzianych do wykorzystania w ramach remontu wiaduktu kolejowego o konstrukcji stalowej

Abstract

The paper outlines the on-site fire tests of FRP (fibre-reinforced polymer) products applied to a steel railway bridge. The bridge consisting of two main steel girders with a span of 9.9 m, and with timber sleepers was mounted with four different FRP floor panels on sleepers, consoles and railing systems. The FRP products differed in shape, and reaction-to-fire class. The results of the fire tests showed that only grate elements or grids with one or both coated surfaces could be accepted. Ribbed elements with the ribs oriented perpendicular to the axis of the sleepers might contribute to the progressive spread of fire to other sleepers. That is why these elements are not permitted for floors on sleepers. The shape of elements for railing construction is not limited from the viewpoint of fire safety. Good behaviour after fire can be achieved even with the profiles of reaction-to-fire class C, so it is not necessary to use fire-resistant gratings with phenol resin. The present paper concludes that FRP equipment has proved to be a suitable, durable and technically well-grounded replacement for standard steel materials for renovation of railway bridges.