SHORT SPAN FIBRE REINFORCED POLYMER BRIDGES

Abstract

The requirement of portable and quickly deployable bridges for military operations and disaster management is unavoidable and it requires a constant review and upgradation with time. The different types of rapidly deployable bridges presently held with the armed forces like the Bailey Bridge or Medium Girder Bridge, vehicle-launched bridges (e.g. Armoured Vehicle-Launched Bridge or Dry Span Bridge), floating pontoon bridges for crossing rivers, and causeways along with their features and shortcomings is discussed in this report. The merits of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites over conventionally used materials used for existing military bridges motivate their use in bridges that will not only reduce the load to be carried during operations but will also save time and effort without compromising the durability and reliability. FRP composites have been globally used in various bridging applications due to their favorable properties like lightweight, high-strength, durability characteristics and ease of transport and installation. The Fiber reinforced polymer composites are now widely used in industries, especially in developed countries like USA, Germany and France. Many countries have started using a large number of short span bridges with FRP decks and FRP laminates. Due to the reinforcement’s corrosion, heavy deal load and wear problems far earlier than desired life span, the RCC bridges show signs of distress during their service life. This problem can be solved to some extent by the use of durable and longer lasting high strength material like FRP. However, this study focuses on its usage as an advantage over heavier iron and alloy bridges being used in the armed forces for quick deployment and mobility of columns. FRP panel or deck weighs about 80% less than its equivalent RCC structure and displays high fatigue resistance, low density, high strength and corrosion resistance. The objective of this study is to design an FRP laminate panel based short span bridge that features a composite structure with a two-way web core FRP laminate panel and metallic girder and also analyze the same for fulfilling serviceability criteria for deflection. This report also brings out the advantages of FRP over conventional materials used for military purposes. The operational routes for military columns during operations and the restoration of essential lifelines for communities hit by major disasters depend on portable and quickly deployable bridges. Therefore, the model of the bridge is made keeping in mind the requirements for the simple and easily deployable design of a FRP based short span bridge which can be useful for armed forces operations in terms of saving time and effort for mobilizing columns.