Design and Numerical Testing of 5-Box GFRP Shell Footbridge

The paper formulates new design conditions for composite footbridges, taking into account the material and structural specificity of these objects, i.e. the strength condition, the serviceability condition and the frequency condition. A GFRP composite footbridge labelled with CFB2 code has been designed, with the original superstructure in the form of an opened-closed 5-box girder. The foot and cycle track bridge is simply supported, of 12.00 m span length and 2.50 m usable width. The main constituents of laminates are bi-directional balanced sewn E-glass woven fabrics, with orientation [0/90] and [45/–45] with respect to the bridge axis, as reinforcement and flame retardant vinylester resin as matrix. The infusion processing technology and bonding with an adhesive of the composite shells are used. The numerical modelling and dynamic and static analysis of the footbridge have been conducted using the FE code MSC.Marc 2010. The considerations include one-shell geometry of the superstructure, structural GFRP laminates of specified ply sequences, bonded joints with an adhesive and original steel plate / rubber pad / bolt or anchor support connections. Load combinations are adopted in accordance with Polish bridge standards.