Carbon-reinforced variable module for short-span bridges suitable for precast concrete lightweight construction

The demand for durable bridges with short to medium spans has been increasing in recent years. Concrete is ideally suited for bridges of this kind. For achieving high durability with economical use of resources, the use of carbon reinforcement in concrete is advantageous since with this solution a drastic reduction in weight by minimizing concrete cover can be achieved. The VariBridge research project developed a steel-free reinforced, size-variable bridge module in carbon-reinforced concrete suitable for precast concrete in lightweight construction. It was designed in collaboration with the construction company Hans Graf Bauunternehmung, the engineering firm Schulze & Rank and TU Chemnitz. The solution was intended for spans from 5 to 15 m, with implementation and testing on a reference structure.

The thin-walled T-beam construction consists of high-performance concrete with closed structure and a combined steel-free reinforcement system of carbon grids, glass-fiber-reinforced plastic (GRP) bars and new GRP stirrups. It also features a new carbon angle lamella, registered for patent approval, that is integrated form-fit into the concrete during production. For technological implementation, a new formwork system is applied that, by using variable inserts, enables manufacture of various geometries. This development will be tested for the first time within the scope of a reference structure (a pedestrian bridge in Wesseling, Germany), to be constructed in late 2022. In summary, the VariBridge, through combination of the new steel-free reinforcement system and an especially developed concrete formula, allows significant reduction of component thickness while at the same time increasing service life to approx. 100 years. In this way, slender construction methods for bridges can be implemented on a resource-efficient basis.

x

Related articles:

Issue 05/2016 Submitted/Eingereicht von: Solidian

Carbon-reinforced concrete pedestrian and cycle bridge

On 23 February 2016 the Solidian GmbH received the innovation prize for structural concrete products of the supplier industry for the carbon-reinforced concrete pedestrian and cycle bridge built in...

more
Issue 09/2017 Solidian

Carbon concrete is becoming the go-to material for bridge construction and restoration

Textile reinforcements made of carbon are being used more and more in bridge construction, especially for items in precast concrete construction or for repair works. Reinforced concrete, which is...

more
Issue 02/2016 International examples

Bridges with non-metallic reinforcement

Over the last few years, the requirements on bridge structures have considerably increased owing to the growing traffic volume and they are due to become even more stringent in the years ahead. A not...

more
Issue 11/2019 SOLIDIAN

Pavement made of carbon-reinforced concrete for bridges

The Remstal valley is a roughly 80 km long river valley situated east of Stuttgart. The first intercommunal garden show took place between May and October 2019. In this connection, three pedestrian...

more
Issue 02/2016 Solidian

Facing the future with textile-reinforced concrete

Non-corrosive concrete reinforcement made of carbon and glass fibers provide for new design possibilities, increasing the efficiency in concrete construction. The Solidian company based in Albstadt,...

more