Page 40 - Traffic Infra Tech Magazine

INFRASTRUCTURE

Interview:
Providing cost-effective Fibre Reinforced

Polymer solutions for Bridges

commissioning cost. FRP bridges could
Ashish Kumar, practically last for ever as they are
completely non-corroding in nature,
Chief Executive Officer, while wooden, steel bridges typically
Arvind Advanced Materials need refurbishment after 10 - 15 years.
FRP bridges are a superior alternative for
is partnering with ICS Tech regions with difficult terrain, riverine,
PRO, USA to manufacture FRP coastal areas and high seismic zones.
They can also be quickly repaired when
bridges in India broken, recycled if required.
What your plans for India in
The benefits of having Fibre northern borders and North-East – both the coming years? When will
Reinforced Plastic/Polymer? these regions are hilly. FRP bridges are these be marketed?
an ideal solution for areas like these. To
Most of the components of FRP give you an estimate, FRP bridges can be We are working with the relevant
bridges such as girders, rebars, decking installed as quickly as within 12 hours. government authorities and developing
panels etc are pre-fabricated. Being 70% While evaluating FRP bridge suitability the optimal solution with them. We
lighter than mild steel, it can be easily for any application, four factors are will soon be seeing installations of FRP
bridges in India.
transported, handled and managed considered – Unsupported span, width,
without the support of large cranes. loading and the components used. ICS Tech Pro has vast experience in
Also, being lighter helps to reduce the These can be modelled to suit various designing and building FRP bridges
inertia forces in seismic prone regions. applications. We are currently working globally. Along with Arvind’s material
Depending on the strength on two sets of applications to begin with: expertise and process excellence, we
would be able to offer the best solutions
requirements, FRP parts can be combined • Bridges for light weight vehicles: Max for all terrains, load profiles etc.
in various designs or could also be total weight of 10 Metric Tonnes,
combined with pre-cast concrete, steel maximum width of 3.5 meters and Case studies
sections to build mixed bridges. They maximum unsupported span of 4 FRP bridge construction first began
are specifically cost effective in difficult meters around 1995s in USA, since then multiple
terrains, corrosive environments, quick • Pedestrian Bridges: till unsupported FRP bridges have been constructed
installations situations (for e.g. defence) span of 10 meters globally. In Spain, first vehicular FRP
and situation where minimum weight is girder bridge (2004) was built along
beneficial. FRP bridges are suitable for highways, the highway leading to the Asturias
foot bridges over roads, railway
Advantages in Indian crossings, pedestrian bridges and lifting Airport. The girders weighed just ~50 kN
Applications bridges over rivers / canals. They are which were transported through trucks
especially useful in border and disaster and then assembled at the site. Three
While India has grown leaps and affected areas where a strong, quick such girders of length 46m each were
bounds in connecting its various to install bridge solution is critical to used. The entire bridge installation was
regions, some regions especially in rural connect two separated areas. completed within 3 hours.
hinterlands, riverine areas, coastal areas This 20 Meter bridge was
and hilly terrains are still unconnected. What about the cost and preassembled and made in two parts.
FRP bridges provides a strong and cost- sustainability features? Since this was difficult of approach on
effective solution to connect these FRP bridges are cost effective road, the assembled part bridge was
regions. if we consider the total cost of a taken to the site on a chopper for
Also, Indian government is focusing on bridge including the life cycle cost, installation. This bridge is being used for
strengthening the infrastructure near the transportation, installation and a cycling track.

40 April - May ’18 / TrafficInfraTech www.trafficinfratech-com-500653.hostingersite.com