Articles about CPD

Due to economic & climate considerations Clients demand ever more sustainable options when trying to repair or extend the life of their bridges rather than its complete replacement. Bridges often require repairs and eventually wholescale replacement of key structural elements during its service life & these can be very expensive and disruptive to the users of the bridge. Perhaps the most disruptive and costly is that of the deck replacement which could be steel, concrete or a timber deck for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicle trafficking.

Almost 7 years ago one of our Local Authority Clients issued a tender for a project that required a new simply supported 8m single span bridge of 1m width with a standard anti climb parapet. A variety of typical bridge construction types were permitted including steel, timber and an alternative using Lifespan resin infused FRP composites. With input from the Client additional considerations were made as to the likely cost and regularity of maintenance works for each of the possible bridge types in order to ascertain a whole life cost for each of the options.

EuCIA publishes update on future Eurocode for composites

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.

As 2022 continues to be an extremely busy time for Lifespan Structures we are pleased to announce that Steven Dunn has recently joined to further strengthen our specialist team. A civil engineer with over 25 years of experience in providing technical and commercial support to Clients, specifiers and contractors he has strong knowledge in specialist areas including structural concrete repair, structural strengthening utilising carbon fibre plate (CFRP), composites, adhesives & ultra-high modulus plates.

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.

Director John Drewett is presenting a paper on Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Composites at the IStructE CPD on Alternative Materials in Sterling on the 19th September 2017. The presentation will cover the following;
• Introduction to FRP composites
• History of FRP composites in construction
• Recent case studies
• Cost/benefit comparison with traditional materials
• Environmental benefits
See John on Tuesday 19th Sept 2017 2:30pm for 3:00pm at Stirling Court Hotel, University of Stirling, Airthrey Rd, Stirling, FK9 4LA
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