Author
A.S. Jülich
Abstract
This work introduces a control strategy to increase the security factors and rigidity of a Fibre Reinforced Polymer Bridge. The double-bow of the bowstring bridge is obtained by an elastic buckling of straight glass fibre pipes. The bows are stabilized with carbon fibre cables and zigzag stays. Crossbars at the intersection of cables and stays support the bridgedeck. The selfstress held in the structure depends on the choice of the pipes. A Finite Element Study highlights the weak points of the structure. The control stategy aims to interactively redistribute the forces within the bridge’s tension elements, and to minimise the deck displacement, and is based on equilibrium shapes. Different stress-equalizing geometries can be determined with the Force Density Method. The target shape for a given external load is the stress-equalizing geometry with the minimum deck displacement. A control device adapting the stays force, the bridge becomes a smart structure.
