FRP design rules for next generation sustainable bridges

Fiber Reinforced Plastics (FRP) have great potential for the realisation of sustainable, durable, and architecturally challenging designs. Low maintenance, quick installation and longer spans are valuable advantages made possible by its combination of chemical resistance, high strength and low weight. However, after 10 years of demonstration projects of all sorts of structures worldwide, its feasibility is still discussed and guidelines for the design of civil structures are limited. FRP is a preferred material in off shore, wind energy and aerospace. Can we make use of this experience?

And how should design codes be adjusted to the needs of the market to achieve the true feasibility of FRP for civil structures? In this paper the results of a study into improved FRP design recommendations for construction are presented, following the Eurocode methodology and aiming towards improved accessibility of the codes to professionals trained in conventional materials.