Monitoring and modelling long-term performance of fibre-reinforced
polymer bridges
Supervisors: Dr Stana Živanović
and
(s.zivanovic@warwick.ac.uk and
Dr Irwanda Laory
i.laory@warwick.ac.uk)
Structural application of fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials is one of the key
factors leading to technological innovations in aviation, chemical, offshore oil and gas, rail and
marine sectors. Motivated by such successes, FRP shapes and systems are increasingly used in
the construction sector, such as for bridges and small residential buildings. An obstacle to a wider
use of FRP materials in structural engineering is the current lack of knowledge about their longterm static and dynamic performance.
We are in the process of designing an all-FRP bridge, to be built on the University of Warwick
campus within the research project entitled Characterising dynamic performance of fibre
reinforced polymer structures for resilience and sustainability (for more info see
http://gow.epsrc.ac.uk/NGBOViewGrant.aspx?GrantRef=EP/M021505/1). Within the advertised
PhD project, the aim is to develop methodologies for damage detection and identification of FRP
structures. It involves measurement system design, detailed instrumentation, monitoring and
analysis of the bridge’s performance over a few years period, with the focus on choice of resilient
instrumentation and optimum monitoring points to allow for effective identification and modelling
of bridge properties with time.
Aberfeldy bridge, longest FRP footbridge.
Preliminary design of wireless monitoring system for the FRP bridge.