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Kolding bridge: a technical landmark
Kolding bridge-. a technical landmark A completely composite bridge, w h i c h recently opened in Denmark, is the first ever of its kind to cross a railway line. Its maker Fiberline says it is an international breakthrough w h i c h shows that GRP may represent the building material for the future for Hghtweight, maintenancefree bridges. Amanda Weaver reports from Kolding. by a factor of four since the 520 m T h e materials c u r r e n t l y u s e d to But as t h e build long s p a n b r i d g e s r e m a i n span Forth Railway Bridge was built. increases the largely u n c h a n g e d from those used at the beginning of the 20th c c n t u W. Some improvements in s t r e n g t h and durability h a v e b e e n m a d e but developm e n t has b e e n evolutionary rather t h a n revolutionary. It is the p r o n o u n c e d improvements in fabrication and construction techniques, especially the i n c r e a s e o f lifting capabilities, w h i c h have allowed the length of such bridges to increase Kolding bridge is all composite apart f r o m the nuts a n d bolts holding it together.
Reinforced Plastics September 1997
30
span of bridges d e a d load o f t h e structural elements plays an e v e r g r e a t e r role. "I~is m a k e s structural m a t e r i a l s a n d d e s i g n s w h i c h lead to a w e i g h t r e d u c tion increasingly attractive, says Professor Niels Gimsing of the T e c h n i c a l University o f D e n m a r k . If t]he t r e n d to increase span lengths beyond previous limits c o n t i n u e s into t h e n e x t c e n t u r y it is likely t h a t e f f o r t s will b e m a d e to
0034-3617/97/$17.00 Copyright ~ 1997, Elsevier Science Ltd. ,adl rights reserved.
K o l d i n g bridge: a t e c h n i c a l l a n d m a r k
f u r t h e r increase the strength of existing materials and to i nt r oduce new materials with higher s t r e n g t h - t o - d e n s i t y ratios t h a n found for traditional materials. A great o p p o r t u n i t y exists for composites and d e m o n s t r a t i o n projects such as the Fiberline bridge can only s t r e n g t h e n the case. The City of Kolding officially o p e n e d the bridge on 18th June 1997. It represents the culmination two years work by a consortium of companies and local authorities to get the innovative bridge approved and constructed. It started with an idea developed by Henrik Thorning, the owner o f ' l o c a l p u l t r u d e r Fiberline Composites. He suggested a composite bridge to the City of Kolding to replace an old bridge which had been demolished. They then brought together a num be r of key sponsors including, e n g i n e e r i n g company Ramboll, resin supplier Jotun Polymer and the glass fibre maker Owens Corning, to bring his vision to reality. Operating conditions for the bridge are severe. It will cross an overhead electrified main railway line which runs through a narrow cutting b o r d e r e d on one side by a salt water fjord. In these conditions composites offer a nu m b e r of key advantages:
The light weight o f the bridge made it possible to install it in j u s t a f e w hours over weekend nighti
El
• t hey are n o n - c o n d u c t i v e and therefore pose no danger if they c o m e into c o n t a c t w ith th e overhead lines; • the only non-composite materials in the bridge are the bolts and bearings on the foundations so t h e c o r r o s i o n will n o t b c a problem in the salty air. It is e x p e c t e d to require only cosmetic maintenance over the next 50 years, reducing maintenance costs considerably compared with traditional bridges made from steel, c o n c r e t e or wood; and
Reinforced Pla'stics September 1997
GELCOATS
Fresh air is equally crucial at w o r k and at leisure The new Neste LSE gelcoat gives more fresh air Workplace breathing air is influencing the activity of all employees. That's why clean air at work is as important as improving breathing techniques when doing sports at leisure. Neste's new Low Styrene Emission Gelcoat keeps almost all of the styrene needed inside the glossy and hard surface. Independent testing laboratory results show that the styrene emission when spraying is reduced by up to 50% compared with standard gelcoats. The benefits for the fabricator are lower air-cleaning investments and reduced emissions to outside air, but also a clean and safe workplace with more committed employees. Simply, Neste LSE Gelcoat gives you the opportunity to produce high-quality products in the right way.
Styrene emissions measured in normal application conditions 1400
I
i
I 1200
STAND/RD GELCOg ..... NESTE !. iE GELCOA3
1000
0oo 600
H
200
Io
Spraying
Curing
20
30
40
50
60
Time {min)
Comparison of styrene emissionwhen spraying Neste LSE Gelcoat and Standard Gelcoat. Measured by IRdevice, CIRCLE 343 ON A D V E R T I S I N G R E S P O N S E C A R D
Neste Polyester Europe I, Avenue de B~le/Bazellaan B-i 140 Bruxelles/Brussels BELGIUN Phone +32-2 729 42 I I Fax +~2 2 726 83 20
Neste Polyester North
Neste Polyester South
Neste Polyester Inc.
P.O. Box 320 FIN-06101 Powoo FINLAND Phone +358-204 50 I Fax - ! 5 8 i04 ~C 3306
BPI F-30150 Sauveterre FRANCE Phone +33 466 90 30 70 Fax -33 466 9C 30 96
5106 Wheeler Avenue Fort Smith, A R 72901 U N T E D STATES Phone +1-501 646 7865 Fax - i-501 646 4279
ESTE
Chemicals
K o l d i n g b r i d g e : ;i t e c h n i c a l l a n d m a r k
• with a span of 38 m and a load bearing capacity of 500 kg/m 2, the 3 m wide bridge weighs just 10 tonnes, less than half the weight of a similar steel construction, making foundation, ass e m b l y and t r a n s p o r t b o t h simpler and cheaper. The only time available for its installation was a few hours work during weekends, but after just three such nights in May and June the bridge was ready. The short installation time has illustrated the clear advantages of composites, says Fiberline. But even w h e n composites offer such significant advantages over traditional materials getting them specified is difficult if the cost is more than a steel or c o n c r e t e
structure. The Fiberline project was particularly interesting because the price of the composite bridge was competitive with that of a similar bridge made from traditional materials.
bruit. But the engineers were quick to decide that the ]project merited a more innovative design. The end result is cable-stayed footbridge with a light and elegant look.
This was achieved thanks to the use of standard profiles from Fiberline's current production range, rather than specially made shapes. When costs are compared over the first 15 years of the bridge's life the composite version will be significantly cheaper than the steel one.
The advantages of composites would have been even more significant in a diffelrent design, says Henrik Thorning, but the parties involved w a n t e d to demonstrate that composite c~m match all the requirements without the builder having to compromise on function and appearance.
But although cost was important, aesthetic considerations were also taken into account. The initial suggestion was a traditional grating consmaction in line with the old bridge which had crossed at Lille-
The bridge has added a striking new profile and will be seen as new landmark w h e n approaching the city from the water front, says the City of Kolding's architect, Jorgen Micheelsen. !
ce Costs
0
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r
D t~ < O W
(,9 Z O fl_ ¢D W m Z
It,
WINDING
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w
..J
L o z e n b e r g 23 - 1932
O tz
33
Reinforced
Plastics September
1997
Reinforced Plastics September 1997
30
span of bridges d e a d load o f t h e structural elements plays an e v e r g r e a t e r role. "I~is m a k e s structural m a t e r i a l s a n d d e s i g n s w h i c h lead to a w e i g h t r e d u c tion increasingly attractive, says Professor Niels Gimsing of the T e c h n i c a l University o f D e n m a r k . If t]he t r e n d to increase span lengths beyond previous limits c o n t i n u e s into t h e n e x t c e n t u r y it is likely t h a t e f f o r t s will b e m a d e to
0034-3617/97/$17.00 Copyright ~ 1997, Elsevier Science Ltd. ,adl rights reserved.
K o l d i n g bridge: a t e c h n i c a l l a n d m a r k
f u r t h e r increase the strength of existing materials and to i nt r oduce new materials with higher s t r e n g t h - t o - d e n s i t y ratios t h a n found for traditional materials. A great o p p o r t u n i t y exists for composites and d e m o n s t r a t i o n projects such as the Fiberline bridge can only s t r e n g t h e n the case. The City of Kolding officially o p e n e d the bridge on 18th June 1997. It represents the culmination two years work by a consortium of companies and local authorities to get the innovative bridge approved and constructed. It started with an idea developed by Henrik Thorning, the owner o f ' l o c a l p u l t r u d e r Fiberline Composites. He suggested a composite bridge to the City of Kolding to replace an old bridge which had been demolished. They then brought together a num be r of key sponsors including, e n g i n e e r i n g company Ramboll, resin supplier Jotun Polymer and the glass fibre maker Owens Corning, to bring his vision to reality. Operating conditions for the bridge are severe. It will cross an overhead electrified main railway line which runs through a narrow cutting b o r d e r e d on one side by a salt water fjord. In these conditions composites offer a nu m b e r of key advantages:
The light weight o f the bridge made it possible to install it in j u s t a f e w hours over weekend nighti
El
• t hey are n o n - c o n d u c t i v e and therefore pose no danger if they c o m e into c o n t a c t w ith th e overhead lines; • the only non-composite materials in the bridge are the bolts and bearings on the foundations so t h e c o r r o s i o n will n o t b c a problem in the salty air. It is e x p e c t e d to require only cosmetic maintenance over the next 50 years, reducing maintenance costs considerably compared with traditional bridges made from steel, c o n c r e t e or wood; and
Reinforced Pla'stics September 1997
GELCOATS
Fresh air is equally crucial at w o r k and at leisure The new Neste LSE gelcoat gives more fresh air Workplace breathing air is influencing the activity of all employees. That's why clean air at work is as important as improving breathing techniques when doing sports at leisure. Neste's new Low Styrene Emission Gelcoat keeps almost all of the styrene needed inside the glossy and hard surface. Independent testing laboratory results show that the styrene emission when spraying is reduced by up to 50% compared with standard gelcoats. The benefits for the fabricator are lower air-cleaning investments and reduced emissions to outside air, but also a clean and safe workplace with more committed employees. Simply, Neste LSE Gelcoat gives you the opportunity to produce high-quality products in the right way.
Styrene emissions measured in normal application conditions 1400
I
i
I 1200
STAND/RD GELCOg ..... NESTE !. iE GELCOA3
1000
0oo 600
H
200
Io
Spraying
Curing
20
30
40
50
60
Time {min)
Comparison of styrene emissionwhen spraying Neste LSE Gelcoat and Standard Gelcoat. Measured by IRdevice, CIRCLE 343 ON A D V E R T I S I N G R E S P O N S E C A R D
Neste Polyester Europe I, Avenue de B~le/Bazellaan B-i 140 Bruxelles/Brussels BELGIUN Phone +32-2 729 42 I I Fax +~2 2 726 83 20
Neste Polyester North
Neste Polyester South
Neste Polyester Inc.
P.O. Box 320 FIN-06101 Powoo FINLAND Phone +358-204 50 I Fax - ! 5 8 i04 ~C 3306
BPI F-30150 Sauveterre FRANCE Phone +33 466 90 30 70 Fax -33 466 9C 30 96
5106 Wheeler Avenue Fort Smith, A R 72901 U N T E D STATES Phone +1-501 646 7865 Fax - i-501 646 4279
ESTE
Chemicals
K o l d i n g b r i d g e : ;i t e c h n i c a l l a n d m a r k
• with a span of 38 m and a load bearing capacity of 500 kg/m 2, the 3 m wide bridge weighs just 10 tonnes, less than half the weight of a similar steel construction, making foundation, ass e m b l y and t r a n s p o r t b o t h simpler and cheaper. The only time available for its installation was a few hours work during weekends, but after just three such nights in May and June the bridge was ready. The short installation time has illustrated the clear advantages of composites, says Fiberline. But even w h e n composites offer such significant advantages over traditional materials getting them specified is difficult if the cost is more than a steel or c o n c r e t e
structure. The Fiberline project was particularly interesting because the price of the composite bridge was competitive with that of a similar bridge made from traditional materials.
bruit. But the engineers were quick to decide that the ]project merited a more innovative design. The end result is cable-stayed footbridge with a light and elegant look.
This was achieved thanks to the use of standard profiles from Fiberline's current production range, rather than specially made shapes. When costs are compared over the first 15 years of the bridge's life the composite version will be significantly cheaper than the steel one.
The advantages of composites would have been even more significant in a diffelrent design, says Henrik Thorning, but the parties involved w a n t e d to demonstrate that composite c~m match all the requirements without the builder having to compromise on function and appearance.
But although cost was important, aesthetic considerations were also taken into account. The initial suggestion was a traditional grating consmaction in line with the old bridge which had crossed at Lille-
The bridge has added a striking new profile and will be seen as new landmark w h e n approaching the city from the water front, says the City of Kolding's architect, Jorgen Micheelsen. !
ce Costs
0
fo
r
D t~ < O W
(,9 Z O fl_ ¢D W m Z
It,
WINDING
> a < z O
w
..J
L o z e n b e r g 23 - 1932
O tz
33
Reinforced
Plastics September
1997