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Contractors World UK & Ireland Vol 6 No 1
35
Prefabricated
Design
InfraCore Inside bridges come fully prefabricated, in any
colour. They are finished with an epoxy-bonded wear
surface that doesn’t rot, corrode or degrade over time.
Multiple bridge segments can be joined to create a
variety of bridge widths. When required, bridges can
also be constructed in conjunction with other materials,
such as using an InfraCore Inside deck on a primary
structure in steel or concrete.
This combines the best of both materials. Due to the
use of these innovative composite materials the bridges
come with a 50 year guarantee and have been tested to
survive for 100 years.
The low weight of the prefabricated bridges bring a
number of considerable advantages. One is that only a
simple foundation is needed, often a shallow foundation
suffices, such as a precast concrete slab.
They are easy to transport and can be installed quickly
with a light crane. Also, since the bridges float, they can
be transported to the project site on the water, which
is especially advantageous in restricted areas where
access via road is prohibitive.
All of these are considerations which will be impor-
tant to local and district authorities working hard to get
their local communities operating successfully again as
quickly as possible.
Versatile and Adaptable
InfraCore Inside bridge decks are installed on a new,
existing or refurbished substructure. They provide a
watertight, durable, lightweight and fatigue-resistant
alternative to steel, concrete or timber decks.
The structures meet the loading requirements as set
out in Eurocodes and the decks are finished with an
epoxy-bonded wear surface.
The low self-weight of the bridge decks brings a
number of interesting cost-saving advantages.
• In movable bridges a lighter deck means that the
support structure can be lighter, that the mass of the
movable part is reduced, which in turn reduces the
weight and size of the counterweight and the foun-
dations that support all this.
• In refurbishments the replacement with a lighter deck
reduces the weight, allowing the supports to be re-
tained while at the same time the loading allowance
can be increased.
The closed deck protects the substructure from de-ic-
ing salt and other contaminants. FRP does not rot or
corrode, and it is insensitive to fatigue. It has load-car-
rying capacity in two directions, thus ensuring alternative
load paths.
InfraCore Inside bridge decks
• Max. distributed loading: 6000 kg/m
2
• Max. weight of vehicle: 60 tonnes
• Max. length: 27 meter
• Max. width per element: 8 meter
The design depends on the loading, allowable struc-
tural depth and spacing of the intermediate supports,
as well as specific weight-restrictions. Specific detailing
such as curbs and integrated ducts are also possible.
A typical traffic bridge deck refurbishment or new-build
bridge
• Loading: Eurocode LM1 (60 tonnes vehicles,
30 tonnes axle loads + 9kN/m
2
)
• Intermediate spacing of sub-structure:
maximum 3m
• Deflection limit: span/350, for spans of 3m
• Structural depth: 80mm
• Weight: 80kg/m
2
[cw]
InfraCore Inside road
bridges come fully pre-
fabricated, in any col-
our. They are finished
with an epoxy-bonded
wear surface. Multiple
bridge segments can
be joined to create
wider bridges.
Contractors World UK & Ireland