APPLICABILITY OF GFRP INSPECTION PASSAGE WITH INTEGRATED MOLDING SANDWICH PANEL SLAB TO ACTUAL STRUCTURES

Abstract

 An inspection passage made of glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) has been applied to road bridge. GFRP is lightweight and has excellent corrosion resistance. The inspection passage utilizing the characteristics of GFRP has been developed, and ensured serviceability and safety. In this study, a sandwich panel slab which is lighter and more economical than the conventional assembled sandwich panel slab, has been investigated. The slab is made by integral molding of core material, skin plate and flange. The core material is made of urethane and the skin plate and flange is made of GFRP. There are two types of inspection passage: truss type and girder type, and in the case of truss type, the orientation of the slab was studied as a parameter. Based on the NEXCO (Nippon Expressway Company) test method, a series of tests under design and impact loads were conducted on GFRP test channels with integrally molded sandwich panel slab, and serviceability and safety were verified. As a result, it is confirmed that the GFRP inspection passage with integrated molding sandwich panel slab is applicable because test results show sufficient safety and serviceability.