دانلود رایگان مقاله یک رویکرد به توسعه ارتباط بین الیاف پلیمر عرشه پل ها

Abstract

The use of fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) bridge decks has attracted increasing interest as a competitive alternative to traditional decking solutions. Even though the use of FRP decks started in the early 1990s, the uptake of these decks has been slow in bridge construction and there remains a need for research in diverse technical areas to promote the widespread use of these decks. One such area is the detailing and design of deck panel level connections which enable rapid on-site assembly. The development of connections in FRP decks is a somewhat complex process, which should take account of not only the structural performance and durability of the joint but also the ease of application and the tolerances this necessitates. It should therefore be regarded as a process in which the bridge owner, the designer, the manufacturer and the contractor are all involved. This process has been applied in the development of a novel joint configuration for panel level connections presented in this paper. The collaboration between the bridge owner, designer, manufacturer and contractor led to the development of a connection concept, in which expectations originating from the views of all parties were included. In this way, a concept focusing on meeting the requirements of all bodies was designed.

6. Summary

A systematic approach to the development of an innovative connection between FRP deck panels is presented in this paper. This approach was based on close collaboration between the bridge owner, contractor, manufacturer and designer. Collaborative work was essential in the development of the connection, as it addressed different aspects of the product. Not only the primary functionality of the connection but also the productivity, buildability and serviceability were taken into account. In addition, a new way of thinking by introducing the ‘design for manufacture and assembly’ (DFMA) concept was embraced. The concept of DFMA helped in setting design requirements for the development of the connection. In this way, several innovative connection concepts focusing on meeting the requirements of all parties were proposed. Afterwards, the developed connections were evaluated by means of matrices which were developed specifically for the purpose of this work. After evaluation, the winning connection concept was designed in detail and it was produced for experimental investigation. The advantages of the developed innovative panel level connection in this study are: a) it avoids the need to execute bonding operations on site; ii) it allows for more rapid installation; and iii) it makes the disassembly of bridge panels possible. After manufacturing, the connection was proven to be effective with regard to rapid assembly, which translates into a substantial reduction in total on-site construction time. The test demonstrated that the developed connection meets the stiffness and strength requirements. Slightly ductile behaviour was observed from the load-deflection curves. The results of this study show that the proposed connection has good potential to be used for FRP decks. This, in turn, proves the efficiency of the followed approach for the development of the connection in this paper. Moreover, it supports the need for collaborative working to deliver innovative technology solutions. This methodology can also be used for developing other products than connections.