Composites in

Infrastructure:
beyond novelty
ir. Jan Peeters
Director R&D
FiberCore Europe, Rotterdam
E-LASS, peeters@fibercore-europe.com
Damen Shipyards,
November 25th,
2015
Introduction

FiberCore Europe
• pioneer composite infra
• specialists in composites & infra
• product- & process development
• R&D, engineering & production
• Installation

Production
115 x 30 m = 3450 m2

Rotterdam
 Composites?

Fiber reinforced plastics (FRP)

– fibers
glass, carbon, aramide

– resins
polyester, vinylester, epoxy
 First FRP bridge in The
Netherlands: 1997

Bridge in docking pier

Concept, design, engineering: FiberCore Europe
dimensions : 15 x 2.5m
location : Harlingen
year : 1997
Principal : Bouwdienst RWS
Distinctive technology

= heavy duty,
maintenance free,
composite plate structures

Impact resistant, fatigue resistant, robust ...

Patented technology
InfraCore technology
Price competitive through ...

Serial production
+
Automated engineering
+
Client specific finishing
Reconfigurable mould system

Patented
More than 450 structures with
Sequence of acceptation

• Pioneer-producer (FCE)
• Brave clients
• Contractors
• Engineering offices
• Architects
• Education
• Rules & regulations
• Competitors & Copycats
‘Harbour bridges’
Alleen lukt het niet …
Golf briges
location : Bay Hill Golf Club, Lodge, Orlando (Florida, USA)
year : 2012
Gent, Belgium
dimensions : 17 x 2,5 m
year : 2010
King’s Lynn, Purfleet street, UK
dimensions : 10 x 2,4 m
span : 10 m
traffic class : pedestrian traffic
year : 2013
St. Stino di Livensa, Italy
dimensions : 17,6 x 2,5 m
year : 2013
FRP bridges in Surinam

Paramaribo, Surinam
dimensions : 9,5 x 3,5 m
span : 9,5 m
traffic class : pedestrian traffic + VK30
year : 2013
FRP bridges in Surinam
Marebrug Leiden
dimensions : 10,5 x 9,3 m
span : 9,3 m (n x 0,7 m)
traffic class : class 450 kN
year : 2010
Traffic bridge Utrecht
dimensions : 6,55 x 9 m
span : 6,55 ft
traffic class : class 600 kN, 2 lanes
year : 2011
Oosterwolde
dimensions : 12,5 x 12,5 m
span : 12 m
traffic class : class 600 kN / Eurocodes
year : 2010
Traffic bridge Utrecht, across highway A27
dimensions : 142 x 6,2m
span : 6,2 m
traffic class : class 600 kN, Eurocode
year : 2011-2012
Cross section bridge
Steel truss with FRP floor

Curb with ducts

and cables
underneath

Joint
composite-steel
 steel InfraCore

Traffic bridge Utrecht, across highway A27

dimensions : 142 x 6,2 m
span : 6,2 m
traffic class : class 600 kN
year : 2011-2012
Joint steel-composite
Pin through steel and deck

bonded joint

Composite deck
(InfraCore) Steel plate truss
 InfraCore deck for movable bridge

Steel cross
Steel cross
beam Separated
beam bicycle lane

Profiling included in
Two lanes for Profiling
Two lanes traffic
for deck in deck
motorised included
Pijlebrug
motorised traffic
Full-scale testing
Traffic bridge Elburg
dimensions : 13,8 x 12,7 m
span : 12,9 m
traffic class : class 600 kN
year : 2015
Traffic bridge Elburg
dimensions : 13,8 x 12,7 m
span : 12,9 m
traffic class : class 600 kN
year : 2015
2014: Muiden
 2014: Muiden

Traffic bridge Muiden

dimensions : 16,3 x 11,7 m
span : 11,5 m
traffic class : class 600 kN
year : 2014
Spieringbrug Muiden
Traffic bridge Utrecht
traffic class : class 600 kN
year : 2015
Traffic bridge Utrecht
traffic class : class 600 kN
year : 2015
FRP Lock doors
Lock doors
dimensions : 4,75 x 3,27 m
number :4
location : Erica Ter Apel KW30
production : FiberCore Europe
year : 2011-2012
principal : Provincies Groningen & Drente
 2012: InfraCore composite lock doors in
canal Erica – Ter Apel (Drenthe)

Erica Ter Apel KW30

dimensions : 4,75 x 3,27 m
production : FiberCore Europe
year : 2011-2012
principal : Provincies Groningen & Drente
2014: world’s largest FRP lock doors
in the Wilhelminakanaal in Tilburg
Important design considerations,
especially for bridge deck structures…

FiberCore Europe:

“Do not use composite materials

in infrastructure,
unless these materials and structures are
robust and damage tolerant”
GRP pultruded beam: Achilles heel
Supported in three-point bending
Impaced by hard object  flange-web crack initiation
GRP pultruded beam: Achilles heel
Loaded in three-point bending
Unarrested crack growth  catastrophic failure
Classic sandwich: Achilles Heel
Two skins bonded on a core
Impaced by hard object  skin-core debonding
Classic sandwich: Achilles Heel
Two skins bonded on a core
Crack growth caused by rolling loads
Classic sandwich: Achilles Heel
Two skins bonded on a core
Catastrophic failure, due to unrestricted weak resin dominated fracture path
Multi beam plate: Achilles Heel
Many box beams bonded together
Impaced by hard object  crack in and between webs
Multi beam plate: Achilles Heel
Many box beams bonded together
Crack growth caused by rolling loads
Multi beam plate: Achilles Heel
Many box beams bonded together
Failure, due to unrestricted weak resin dominated fracture path
Multi beam plate: Achilles Heel
Many box beams bonded together, with additional deck layers
Impaced by hard object  two weak resin dominated fracture paths
Glass Fibre Fabric box beam:
Extreme robustness
What is InfraCore Inside

From classic sandwich to InfraCore...

What is InfraCore Inside

From classic sandwich to InfraCore...

What is InfraCore Inside...

From classic sandwich to InfraCore...

What is InfraCore Inside

From classic sandwich to InfraCore...

What is InfraCore Inside

From classic sandwich to InfraCore...

What is InfraCore Inside

From classic sandwich to InfraCore...

What is InfraCore Inside

From classic sandwich to InfraCore...

There is a robust solution…

The only technology to comply

with the requirements formulated in the
Eurocode 0 (EN-1990), proven and
patented worldwide.
Fire resistant doors
Rules and regulations

In The Netherlands:
• 2003 Directive CUR96 (“Fiber Reinforced Polymers
in Load Bearing Civil Structures”)
• 2011-15 Update CUR96, Eurocode format
• 2014 NEN committee (normalisation)

In Europe - CEN
• 2011-2015 Eurocode Composites based
on CUR96:2014 (TC/250, WG4, “Structural Use of
FRP Materials in Civil Engineering”)
Awards

• Tech-25 company FEM Business & Finance

• Innovatietraject InfraTech Belgie 2010
• Building Holland Award 2010 (nominated)
• PRIMA Ondernemen Award 2011 (nominated)
• AVK Umweltpreis 2011
• WNF Clean Tech Star 2013 (nominated)
• InfraTech Halftime Award 2013
• Waterinnovatieprijs 2014
• MKB innovatie top 100, 2015
 Thank you!

Ir. J.H.A. Peeters

www.fibercore-europe.com
peeters@fibercore-europe.com
 Benefits of InfraCore Inside®

Fail safe, durable Low maintenance

multiple load paths excellent adhesion of wear surfaces
in bridges, typically a factor of 10 safety corrosion resistant
tremendous heat and fire resistance UV resistant
high energy absorption when crushed pest resistant
Sustainable graffiti resistant
low carbon footprint Appealing appearance
low energy consumption slender, curved
less environmental pollution all colors possible
Light weight textured surfaces possible
high strength at relatively low weight Fast production
easy to transport a standard bridge can be built in 1 week
easy to install
simple lightweight foundations High value
relocateable cost competitive (out of pocket costs)
floating on water lower total cost of ownership
no technical maintenance required
integrally re-usable
recyclable at end-of-life