Bridge deck panels, fabrication methods and use
AssigneeIntelligent Engineering (Bahamas) Limited
InventorStephen John Kennedy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Bridges decks or panels for bridge decks made of a metal-plastic-metal sandwich with the plastic bonded to the metal plates so as to transfer shear forces therebetween. The sandwich plates may be constructed with either a solid plastic core or a composite core consisting of plastic, metal plates or structural shapes and forms within or without a frame of girders. Sandwich plate bridge panels without peripheral metal frames are held together only by the adhesion of the plastic to the metal plates.
Claims37
A bridge deck panel comprising a sandwich structure having upper and lower metal plates and an intermediate layer of a plastics or polymer material bonded to said metal plates so as to transfer shear forces therebetween.
A bridge deck panel according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said upper metal plate has a thickness in the range of from 0.5 to 25 mm, said lower metal plate has a thickness in the range of from 0.5 to 25 mm and said intermediate layer has a thickness in the range of from 5 to 1000 mm.
A bridge deck panel according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said upper and lower metal plates are comprised of different metals and/or are of different thicknesses and/or have different surface treatments applied.
A bridge deck panel according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said intermediate layer is formed of compact elastomer.
A bridge deck panel or two bridge deck panels according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said plastics or polymer material has a modulus of elasticity, E, greater than or equal to about 250 MPa and a ductility exceeding that of the metal layers.
A bridge deck panel or two bridge deck panels according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said plastics or polymer has a modulus of elasticity greater than or equal to about 275 MPa.
A bridge deck panel constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
A bridge having at least one bridge deck panel according to any one of the preceding claims.
A method of manufacturing a panel, the method comprising the steps of:
- fabricating a metal frame;
- placing said frame around a projecting block;
- placing a first metal plate on said projecting block within said frame;
- welding said first plate to said frame;
- placing a second metal plate on said frame to form a cavity with said first plate;
- welding said second plate to said frame;
- and
- injecting uncured plastics or polymer material into said cavity.
A method of manufacturing a panel, the method comprising the steps of:
- assembling in a mould upper and lower metal plates, and a form, said form being positioned between said upper and lower metal plates in said mould and leaving voids;
- closing said mould;
- and
- injecting uncured plastics or polymer material into said mould to fill said voids between said upper and lower plates, said plastic material, when cured, bonding to said upper and lower plates so as to transfer shear forces therebetween.
A method according to claim 33 wherein in said step of assembling, at least one shear plate is placed in said mould adjacent at least one elongate element so that said plastics or polymer material bonds to said shear plate as well as to said upper and lower metal plates.
A method of manufacturing a panel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
A bridge comprising a deck and a support structure, said deck comprising upper and lower plates fixed to said support structure and defining a cavity therewith, said cavity being at least partially filled with a plastics or polymer material bonded to said metal plates so as to transfer shear forces therebetween.
A method of constructing a bridge having a support structure, the method comprising the steps of:
- fixing upper and lower plates to said support structure to define a cavity therewith and to provide a deck for said bridge;
- and
- injecting uncured plastics or polymer material into said cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.