Composite materials have progressively made their way into many aspects of engineering applications, from reinforcing new and existing structures to repair of damaged sections and protection of critical members, etc. The possibilities are endless. The increased use of composite materials is in large part due to the creation of the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Innovative Bridge Research and Construction (IBRC) program, which promotes and reinforces the use of innovative materials, construction techniques, and structures in general. This work is part of the IBRC program and was initiated by the Iowa DOT to evaluate the applicability of using a fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite bridge for use as a temporary bridge crossing. The entire 39-ft x 27-ft composite structure is composed of a foam core wrapped with layers of FRP and infused with resin. The structure comes in two sections, complete with curb and guardrail, which constitutes the entire superstructure of the bridge, and will replace the DOT's current steel temporary bridge. The scope of this work involves laboratory and field testing of the structure for validation of design assumptions and to obtain a full understanding of the benefits of using this type of structure for both temporary and permanent bridge applications. Results and observations obtained from this work will provide a basis for the development of design standards and details for future use of composite bridge structures.
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