Lightweight durable composite deck offers solution on bridge dynamics

Construction and installation of the new Clavières footbridge over the A16 freeway access lane in Boncourt, Switzerland took place end of 2013. The steel st ructure of this asymm etric stay bridge is composed of an inclined decentred mast supporting a longitudinal tubular beam. This longitudinal member supports the bridge deck by the intermediary of welded consoles resulting in an aerial and slender bridge design.

An ultra-light COLEVO sandwich composite deck is implemented on the bridge in order to reduce the bridge dead weight to fulfil the structural requirements in term s of bridge dynamics, while keeping the structure slender and aesthetic

In addition to being extreme ly lightweight, t his FRP balsa cored sandwich deck solution offers the added benefit of composites for extreme durability. Therefore the sandwich composite deck is answering the bridge owner’s wish to have a highly dura ble and lo w maintenance bridge.

Finally, the lightweight solution allowed for installing large pre fabricated bridge sections, including the adhesively bonded deck, thus minimizing the installation time and road closure