FRP Bridges in the Flanders Region: Experiences from the C-Bridge Project

Abstract

At the start of the C-Bridge project in 2018, the number of fibre-reinforced composite bridges in the Flanders region of Belgium was limited to a handful. These limited achievements were largely due to the poor knowledge of clients (public and private), project managers, design engineers, and contractors, which made the option of composites either unknown or still viewed with a certain degree of suspicion. In addition, there were no standards at the Belgian or European level for the design of such constructions. The C-Bridge project (roadmap into design, guidelines, and execution of composite bridges in Flanders) aimed to stimulate the design, the realization and the construction of composite bridges in Flanders by providing the necessary knowledge to the construction sector in the most suitable form. This knowledge consists of the current state of the art of composites in bridge construction, selection criteria for composite bridges, recommendations for specification texts, and in situ testing of composite bridges and structural and vibration analysis. This C-Bridge project should allow the awarding authorities and contractors to be able to make informed choices regarding fibre-reinforced polymer (fibre composite) bridges but also offer the possibility of making the necessary transformation to this new and promising material to various Flemish companies. The results of the project enable Flemish clients to draw up specifications for FRP bridges in the correct manner. Moreover, they can correctly interpret the calculation notes made available and make a correct assessment. The Flemish engineering firms, on the other hand, will be able to make their own designs of FRP bridges and bridge components. They can also build up a value chain within Flanders with Flemish contractors and producers. From the producers and suppliers’ point of view, the results of the project will lead to a clearer profile of their products on the public and private market. Finally, the general contractors and constructors will be armed to withstand the challenges that FRP bridges entail to subcontractors in terms of execution, follow-up, delivery, and maintenance. The findings are helpful for the acceptance of fibre-reinforced composite bridges as an alternative to timber, steel, or concrete bridges and should generate a market expansion for FRP in the traditionally conservative bridge-building sector first in Flanders and later internationally.