Articles about Conferences

A new 16.5m span, sustainable FRP footbridge with a design life of 120 years incorporating a bespoke balustrade of marine-grade polished steel and infill panels with a protective rust patina.

Dates now available for CPD events in November, December 2023 and into early 2024
Email steven@lifespanstructures.com to arrange a suitable date & time

The extent to which manufacturing-induced fibre mat misalignments compromise the structural integrity of pultruded GFRP road bridge decks is not properly understood. The problem is often critical at the web-flange junctions, which frequently contain the most severe misalignments and are subjected to high local moment-shear (M-V) combinations due to concentrated tyre load and also global vehicle load effects. Over the last 20 years, several GFRP decks have developed tyre load-induced damage of the top flange, due in large part to the prevalence of fibre misalignments.

Colinton Dell is a steep-sided gorge and wildlife refuge on the Water of Leith, just north of the old village of Colinton on the outskirts of Edinburgh. It extends from Colinton Parish Church towards Slateford along the Water of Leith Walkway and has an area of 10 ha (25 acres). The Dell includes mature and ancient mixed woodland and the protection afforded by the high banks and thick undergrowth makes it a natural habitat for wildlife, including numerous bird species and amphibians, voles, weasels, stoats and occasionally roe deer.

We are busy taking bookings for our technical seminars which can be conducted at Clients offices / hybrid or on-line to suit individual requirements. The two key presentations available are:
Bridging The Gap An introduction & history of composites in construction, the feasibility / design / supply & installation of recent Lifespan resin infused FRP bridge case studies, financial & economic benefits versus traditional materials
The Lifespan Bridge Management Service Tailored to the requirements of all bridge owners and stakeholders the CPD identifies the key actions required during the life of a footbridge, from initial concept to end of service and everything in between.

Construction Strategy 2025 outlines the challenges that the market place faces over the next few years. The strategy document outlines the need for the industry to;
Lower Costs By 33% Both Inital Costs and Whole Life Costs Faster Delivery 50% Improve speed from inception to completion Lower Emission 50% Reduce greenhouse gasses such as CO2 Improvement in Export 50% Reduce Trade gap for construction products and materials Lifespan Structures already working towards Construction Strategy 2025
The use of an FRP Footbridges instead of traditional forms of construction, already goes a long way to satisfying all of these targets!

John Drewett presented a case study based around a project called Sedlescombe Bridge and showing the benefits of the use of FRP materials for simple but elegant footbridges both in terms of Whole Life Costing and Environmental Impact. The FRP footbridge at Sedlescombe in East Sussex was installed in early 2015 and the presentation showed how the use of FRP compares to traditional materials such as timber and steel for a project of this type. The presentation showed whole life costing comparisons between the normal forms of construction typically used for this type of bridge and demonstrated how whilst a timber bridge maybe cheapest at capital cost stage, that as soon as maintenance is required the FRP bridge becomes the most beneficial in terms of whole life cost.