FiberCore Europe’s Norwegian partner, Module Solutions & Systems, will, together with Multiconsult, design and deliver innovative and sustainable solutions for bridge maintenance to Vestland County Municipality, in Norway.
Two concepts will be designed, one of which, SUREbridge with InfraCore® Inside, reinforces the existing concrete deck with a thin composite deck on two bridges. The second concept replaces the existing bridge deck in concrete with a composite deck on two steel girder bridges.
Both solutions aim to provide increased safety, longer service life, shorter installation time, lower maintenance costs and not least increased reuse of existing bridges.
More road for the money
This innovation project aims to test whether replacing concrete with composite material can reduce costs in terms of maintenance. Composite material has not yet been tested in such an environment as Norwegian roads offer, but the material’s properties give great reason to believe that this will work.
Today’s solution with the use of concrete pavers turns out to require more maintenance, due to chloride penetration and frost damage which can lead to corrosion on reinforcement and concrete damage. When using composite, this problem will no longer occur.
The project also aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as one can “keep existing bridges alive” longer when one can postpone the replacement of old bridges with new ones. This will be a direct contributor to the national goals of more value for money and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Illustration shows how the SUREbridge concept, with InfraCore®Inside, is built in layers.
Increased traffic safety
The project includes design, production, and installation of four bridges in Vestland county. The new composite decks will be able to strengthen the bridges so that both the superstructure can be secured against water and salt, and that a new asphalt wear layer can be added. In addition, it will be possible to attach approved bridge railings which will lead to a great improvement in traffic safety at the bridges in question.
Virtually maintenance-free
The composite material used for the bridge decks is a polymer matrix reinforced with fiberglass, often referred to as FRP (Fiber Reinforced Polymer). The material is virtually maintenance-free and will be able to extend the life of aging bridges considerably. The concepts also mean that closing time on the road can in some cases be reduced during the construction period. This is very beneficial as many county roads are narrow and do not have detour options.
The innovation project is supported by Innovation Norway and will ensure that these new concepts are designed based on Norwegian regulations and handbooks, and that they receive full-scale testing under Norwegian climatic conditions.
About MSS
Module Solutions & Systems AS (“MSS”) is an innovative supplier of bridge solutions in FRP, nano-based deep stabilization technology and sheet piling solutions in alternative material choices. The solutions are modern and future-oriented, adapted to a constantly changing infrastructure industry with an increased focus on the environment. Our focus is to supply the market with the most innovative products, environmentally focused and always having the safety aspect as the first priority. This results in us giving our customers the best possible LCA and LCC on their projects.
Contact:
Martijn Veltkamp: veltkamp@fibercore-europe.com / +31 6 13 96 90 09