E39 Bjørnafjorden - floating bridge – challenges and solutions

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the main challenges and corresponding solutions for a floating bridge crossing Bjørnafjorden. The paper investigates challenges related to quantification of loads, design of permanent structures as well as temporary phases. The paper evaluates a curved bridge without mooring lines, but considerations are partly valid for a straight bridge anchored to the seabed as well. Both solutions have been used, but the length of the Bjørnafjorden crossing is significantly larger than previous bridges and thus more challenging.

Full-scale fatigue testing with initial damage as validation of FRP road bridge design

Bridges built in fibre reinforced polymers (FRP) bring the important advantage of low-maintenance costs, thus reducing the total cost of ownership. Various kinds of FRP-constructions have been built hundreds of times in the last decade, the technology is now beyond the stage of infancy. The Province of Groningen has positive experiences with bridges and lock gates built in FRP. For a 8m span lifting bridge for road usage, the province prescribed FRP as the structural material for the deck, and in parallel required additional validation of the material's fatigue resistance through fullscale testing.