A HIGH STRENGTH TO WEIGHT, LOW COST BRIDGE DECK IS REQUIRED FOR THE ARMY'S TRI-ARCH BRIDGE.

A HIGH STRENGTH TO WEIGHT, LOW COST BRIDGE DECK IS REQUIRED FOR THE ARMY'S TRI-ARCH BRIDGE. FOSTER-MILLER, INC. IS PROPOSING FIBER REINFORCED THERMOPLASTIC DECK MADE BY A COMBINATION OF ROLL-FORMING AND WELDING. USE OF AN ENGINEERING THERMOPLASTIC MATRIX MATERIAL SUCH AS POLYETHERETHERKEYTONE (PEEK) PROMISES TO OVERCOME MANY OF THE DISADVANTAGES WHICH HAVE PREVENTED THERMOSETTING EPOXIES FROM BEING USED FOR THIS APPLICATION. FLEXURAL STRENGTH EQUIVALENT TO THAT OF FIBER REINFORCED EPOXY CAN BE ACHIEVED IN COMBINATION WITH AN ORDER OF MAGNITUDE IMPROVEMENT IN IMPACT STRENGTH. THE ABILITY TO USE MODIFIED METAL FORMING TECHNIQUES (E.G., ROLL-FORMING AND WELDING) WILL ULTIMATELY RESULT IN HIGH PRODUCTION RATES AND LOW COST. PHASE I FEASIBILITY DEMONSTRATION WILL CONSIST OF: ROLL-FORMING OF 2 IN. FIBER REINFORCED CHANNEL SECTION; SHEAR AND PEEL STRENGTH TESTS ON WELDED THERMOPLASTIC CORE-SKIN JOINT, AND FABRICATION OF SMALL (1 IN. X 1 IN.) SAMPLE DECK PANEL.