FRP-Balsa Composite Sandwich Bridge Deck with Complex Core Assembly
Publication: Journal of Composites for Construction
Volume 17, Issue 6
Abstract
The aim of this work was to investigate to what extent the performance of a glass fiber–reinforced polymer (GFRP) sandwich slab-bridge with a uniform high-density balsa core could be improved in terms of structural efficiency and weight by using a more complex core assembly. This core consisted of high-density and low-density balsa and a fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) arch inserted into the balsa high/low density interface. Quasi-static load-bearing experiments on sandwich arch-beams with complex core assemblies under symmetric four-point and asymmetric three-point loading were performed. The FRP arch reduced the force in the upper face sheet in the mid-span region and thus prevented compression failure of the latter, which led to a higher ultimate load. It also contributed to the shear resistance by up to 20% for symmetric loading. The best overall performance in terms of structural efficiency (stiffness and resistance) and weight resulted from a core configuration with a GFRP arch between an upper high-density and lower low-density balsa core.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge the support of this research by 3A Composites, Sins, Switzerland. The beams were manufactured by Décision SA, Ecublens, Switzerland.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Composites for Construction
Volume 17 • Issue 6 • December 2013
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 6, 2013
Accepted: Aug 9, 2013
Published online: Aug 12, 2013
Published in print: Dec 1, 2013
Discussion open until: Feb 18, 2014
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