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.