UMaine engineers test composite girder bridge system

UMaine engineers perform a test on an innovative bridge girder made of composite materials with dozens of engineers, Maine DOT officials, business leaders, investors, researchers, and staff in attendance.

Orono, Maine — The University of Maine (UMaine) unveiled a rapidly deployable bridge system at the Advanced Structures and Composites Center. Engineers, Maine Department of Transportation officials, business leaders, investors, researchers, members from Advanced Infrastructure Technologies (UMaine’s licensee for the original Bridge-in-a-Backpack) and staff attended the event, at which a bridge span was strength-tested in the laboratory using computer-controlled hydraulic equipment that simulates the heaviest highway truck loads.

The strength-test was conducted for the first time to prove the design modeling predictions, and demonstrate the bridge system can withstand the truck loading specified in the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Bridge Design Specifications.

The patent-pending system, developed at the UMaine Composites Center, utilizes composite material girders and precast concrete deck panels to reduce the time and logistics to build a bridge. The lightweight highway bridge superstructure can be built in 72 hours, a considerable improvement on the time it normally takes to build a bridge.

In addition to significantly reducing construction time and logistics, the new bridge girders are designed to last 100 years, and the precast concrete deck is designed to be easily removed and replaced. The bridge system can be used for highway bridges, pedestrian bridges and military applications. The design is targeted for short- to medium-span bridge applications, up to 80-foot unsupported spans.

“Today’s bridge test exceeded our expectations. The composite bridge withstood forces equivalent to more than 80 cars stacked on top of each other, and more than five times the HL 93 design load specified by AASHTO. The composite bridge girder exceeded twice the collapse strength of steel and concrete girders. Today was truly a remarkable engineering achievement made possible by research sponsored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the dedication and hard work of University researchers,” said Dr. Habib Dagher, executive director of the UMaine Advanced Structures and Composites Center.

“This bridge system takes advantage of the unique properties of both composite materials and precast concrete, and it is designed with construction logistics in mind. The bridge girders weigh only 1-2 tons for 40- to 80-foot spans, so that they can be erected with locally sourced common rental cranes, making them easy to deploy in most locations.

“The unique girder shape was designed to be nesting and stackable. As a result, three to four bridges can be transported on a single flatbed. This bridge system continues the University of Maine’s commitment to be a world leader in developing advanced, innovative solutions to address our nation’s infrastructure challenges. We thank the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for sponsoring the research work.”

“As the commercialization partner of the Center’s composite arch bridge system, today’s event allowed us to showcase this new technology with potential investors as well as DOT partners and executives. We’re ready to go to market,” said Brit Svoboda, Chairman and CEO of AIT Bridges.