DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING OF A FULL COMPOSITE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE

To increase their knowledge of fibre reinforced plastics, the Dutch Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Watermanagement has decided to apply these kind of materials in some infrastructural works. This paper describes the design and manufacturing of a full composite pedestrian bridge with a span of 15 meters. Using fibre reinforced plastics it was possible to reduce the weight of the bridge to about 45% of the weight of a steel bridge. However, based on this experience, the conclusion can be drawn that fibre reinforced plastics are very expensive in comparison with a steel solution; even when the savings in maintenance costs are taken into account. In this case using prefabricated FRP elements might have been more economical. During the manufacturing phase it appears that the processing of fibre reinforced plastics in these quantities needs full attention and a broad experience with the materials used to realize high quality laminates.