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Modular
FRP Composite Bridge Deck
The Need
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The bridge infrastructure of the
United States is in constant need of repair and rehabilitation. It is reported that 43% of
the bridges in the USA have been identified as being structurally deficient or
functionally obsolete due to corrosion. Corrosion is a major problem specially when
deicing has to be done. The repair of concrete and timber bridge decks is a time consuming
and costly exercise. Bridge repairs also causes safety hazards and traffic delays. The
need for a cost effective and efficient method for replacing and repairing bridges cannot
be overemphasized.
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Composite Bridge Deck
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The Technology
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SuperdeckTM, a
non-corrosive fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite bridge deck. The Deck is designed
and engineered into a lightweight, strong and rigid structure that will not corrode. The
deck sections, composed of hexagon and double-trapezoid profiles, are bonded with a
high-strength adhesive under controlled conditions in the manufacturing plant. The H-deck components are placed transversely to the traffic direction and
supported by longitudinal steel or composite beams. Beams can be spaced up to nine feet
apart.
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Beams are installed at site
High performance adhesive bonding is applied to beam
surface
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The Benefits
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- It can replace deteriorated concrete or timber bridge deck.
- Cost effective on an installed cost basis.
- Field assembly of deck modules takes only hours to complete.
- Safety is enhanced as minimal equipment and formwork is
needed, and long traffic delays are eliminated.
- Good fatigue resistance and high strength-to-weight ratios
yield high durability.
- Corrosion-resistant and maintenance free material eliminates
the number of future replacements.
- Contains zero metal reinforcements eliminating corrosion due
to deicing materials.
- Complies with the American Association of State Highway
& Transportation Officials (AASHTO) HS 25 Highway Bridge Design.
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Prefabricated SuperdeckTM is installed
using minimal equipment
On-site assembly takes only a few hours
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Status
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This technology was honored as
one of 1999 Nova Award Finalists by Construction Industry
Forum. It won the Industry Recognition Awards as finalist, the CERF Charles Pankow
Award for Innovation in 1997, and the Market Viability Award from the Composite
Fabricators Association in 1997. It
has being installed in many locations: County Road 26/6, Lewis County, Virginia; The Ohio
to Erie trail, Xenia, Ohio; County Road 26, Taylor County, West Virginia; Route 4003, off
Route 31, Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
SuperdeckTM is currently undergoing a
Highway Innovative Technology Evaluation Center (HITEC) product evaluation. HITEC is Civil
Engineering Research Foundation (CERF)'s service center and clearinghouse for implementing
highway innovation. |
Barriers
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There are no long-term studies on the
performance of the bridge since it is a new construction material and technology. |
Points of Contact
- Robert D. Sweet, Jr. Creative Pultrusions, Inc. 214 Industrial
Lane, PO Box 6, Alum Bank, PA 15521-0006. Phone: (814) 839-4186. Fax: (814) 839-4276. Email:crpul@pultrue.com
References
- Superdeck Product Brochure.
- Superdeck Installation Profile.
- Creative Pultrusions web site: www.creativepultrusions.com
Disclaimer Statement
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Neither the Construction
Industry Institute nor Purdue University in any way endorses this
technology or represents
that the information presented can be relied upon without further investigation. |
LW, SW,SC
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