GFRP-Balsa Sandwich Bridge Deck: Concept, Design, and Experimental Validation

The concept, design, and experimental validation of the new Avançon Bridge in Bex, Switzerland, are described. The lightweight glass fiber–reinforced polymer (GFRP) sandwich bridge deck adhesively bonded to steel girders, reduced the traffic disruption period by approximately 40 days or 80% compared to a cast-in-place concrete bridge, and also enabled the bridge to be widened to two lanes. The semi-integral bridge concept allows the application...