Application of Steel and GFRP Composite in an Asymmetric Cable-stayed Bridge for Emergency Disaster Relief

Application of Steel and GFRP Composite in an Asymmetric Cable-stayed Bridge for Emergency Disaster Relief

This study develops a temporary bridge system that uses a self-weight balance approach and a cantilever incremental launching method. An asymmetric self-anchored cable-stayed bridge is proposed. The structural segments are constructed using heavyweight materials(e.g., steel and concrete) and are used as counterweights at the rescue end, and the cross-river segments are constructed from lightweight materials(e.g., composite materials). This facilitates increasing the span to reach the isolated island end without any further supports or foundations. The bridge system includes a weight-balance structural module, a bridge-tower structural module, a crossing structural module, and connection cables. By combining the strength and low weight of glass-fiber-reinforced composite material with the structural features of an asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge, this technology overcomes the time restrictions imposed by the use of temporary roadways made from concrete pipes(which often takes from three days to a week to construct) and temporary steel bridges(1-3 weeks to install). In contrast, this transportable bridge can be assembled within six hours, and possesses the advantages of(1) quick assembly,(2) do-it-yourself use by residents, and(3) reusability.