Steel-Sandwich Elements in Bridge Applications

Report, 2015

Sandwich structures have been used in different applications for 100 years, since World War One. Steel sandwich elements have been proposed to be produced using an adhesive connection or discrete point spot welding. Recent increased use of and confidence in laser welding methods enables a continuous connection between the core and the face plate of a steel sandwich element. This yields a connection, and furthermore a plate element, with high strength and toughness. The high stiffness to weight ratio and the decreased level of orthotropy in comparison to conventional stiffened steel plates, is very attractive for bridge applications. Furthermore, they have a high capacity with respect to global buckling. These properties makes sandwich plate element applicable to different bridge types, as a slab in an open cross section for short and medium span bridges or in closed box section for the stiffening girder of a cable supported bridge. This report review’s the state of art regarding steel sandwich elements in bridge applications, with a focus on the corrugated core geometrical configuration. The aim of this report is to identify the gaps of knowledge regarding corrugated core steel sandwich elements for bridge applications.