COMPOSITES: SUSTAINABLE, INNOVATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS FOR HALLS RIVER BRIDGE.
As part of the “Invitation for Innovation” launched by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Owens Corning and University of Miami are collaborating on a project to build a bridge of the future over Halls River, in Homosassa springs, Florida. Halls River Bridge is a real-size demonstrator of an international collaborative project named ‘SEACON’ that aims at demonstrating the safe and durable utilization of seawater and salt-contaminated aggregates (natural or recycled) for a sustainable concrete production when combined with noncorrosive reinforcement. The initiative, led by the FDOT, includes members of academia, consulting engineers and the FRP suppliers and manufacturing community. This project is a proof of concept for complete next generation bridge design solutions of the future using a variety of forms of Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRP) and hybrid structural elements. Corrosion and extreme weather can lead to collapse of conventional steel reinforced concrete and Halls River bridge deployment is example how to make FRP concrete structures such as piles, beams, decks, seawalls and traffic railings that demand durability, strength and safety.