The i-bridge - A novel bridge concept

Paper in proceeding, 2011

Feasibility studies on a novel bridge concept embracing industrial bridge engineering, conceptual design and finiteelement analyses have been carried out at Chalmers University of Technology. The i-bridge concept consists of Vshaped glass-fibre-reinforced polymer beams reinforced by carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer profiles. The deck consists of glass-fibre-reinforced polymer plates in composite action with ultra-high-performance steel-fibrereinforced concrete. A general description of the bridge concept as well as the conducted initial investigations and numerical analyses are presented. The investigations performed indicate that the bridge concept could be realised from a technical structural point of view. In addition, the industrial characteristics proposed aim at ensuring efficient production and operation of the bridge.