• composite material
• Structural strengthening
• SUREBridge project
• Van Spangen Bridge

This MSc thesis regards the structural strengthening of the Van Spangen Bridge, an urban bridge located in Rotterdam, according to the SUREBridge method. The aim of the method is to provide a solution to utilize the remaining capacity of the concrete deck in an existing bridge by preserving it, while refurbishing or strengthening the bridge superstructure to the required service level.
SUREBrigde (Sustainable Refurbishment of Existing Bridges) is a European research project, started in 2015 and ended in 2018. The project is coordinated by Chalmers University of Technology (Goteborg). Partners are the University of Pisa (Pisa), AICE Consulting (Pisa), FiberCore Europe (Rotterdam).
Within the SUREBridge project, an innovative and sustainable technique for the structural strengthening of road bridges with concrete or steel girders and concrete decks has been developed.
The innovative solution provided by SUREBridge lays on the combined use of glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) panels on top of the existing slab and carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates.
This project proposes the following advantages: elimination of the need for removing the existing concrete deck, which results in maximum possible utilization of the existing materials, greatly reduced waste production, limited environmental impact, and minimised traffic disturbance.
The Municipality of Rotterdam, involved as stakeholder in the SUREBridge project, proposed to study the Van Spangen Bridge as a pilot project in order to start a process of valorisation of the city with sustainable and more efficient interventions.
Previously conducted analysis for the assessment, show that the Van Spangen bridge needs a structural strengthening. It presents, in fact, many structural lacks, so various strengthening solutions, including the SUREBridge technique, are evaluated in this thesis.