ASSET

Project reference: BRPR980662

Funded under: FP4-BRITE/EURAM 3

Advanced structural system for tomorrow's infrastructure

From 1998-11-01 to 2002-10-31

Project details
Total cost:

Subprogramme:

Not available

0202 - New methodologies for product design and

EU contribution:
Not available

Coordinated in:

manufacture

Funding scheme:
CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

United Kingdom

Objective

Objectives and content The world's infrastructure comprises industrial and public works vital to everyday activities. It plays a key
role in productivity, development, competitiveness, quality of life and health and safety of nations. In the last 50 years EU's
infrastructure expenditure related to its GDP has declined by almost 50 percent. The result is an aged infrastructure much of
which has been built with the technologies and systems developed in late 19th or early 20th century. The consequences are
clearly visible: traffic delays, congestion, deficient bridges and structures, deteriorating roads and motorways and decaying
buildings. Measures which help to reverse such decline will bring far reaching benefits. New construction systems using advanced
composite materials have performance attributes of superior strength with less weight, enhanced durability, longer service life,
ease of manufacture and rapid construction, are energy efficient and have environmental compatibility as they can also be
produced from sustainable resources. ASSET's main objective is to develop a strong and light- weight independent decking or
flooring system made of multi-cell prismatic pultruded advanced composite profiles used as structural components, to efficiently
carry wheel loads in bridges and heavy loads in other building structures. The system will be developed in such a way that it may
be applied as both a complete optimised structural system for small bridges and buildings, and also as a decking or flooring
component of other structures in which it acts compositely with other members. The standardised pultruded profile can potentially
be readily assembled into a multitude of structural shapes for a wide variety of structural applications. The proposed profile
optimises the properties of the material and the manufacturing system and does not attempt to mimic profiles in conventional
materials. The system will be developed in four progressive stages. The first stage addresses the development, design,
manufacture and testing of a single profile and its components. On successful completion of this initial stage an independent deck
unit will be assembled from the standardised profiles and tested (Stage 2). System development will continue by testing an
assembled deck acting compositely with other structural members in Stage 3. Finally, at least one full size bridge to take live
traffic will be constructed with the system as a demonstration project from financial resources made available by the End User
Partner. The bridge(s) will then be monitored after completion of the project by the Client and data will be made available to all
partners for future exploitation, acceptance by Authorities and proof of the technology. The team offers an integrated Consortium

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covering the full spectrum of disciplines in the construction process comprising a Client End User, (GB), who represents the
initiator and provides links with Technical Approval and Maintenance Authorities. The Science Partner, (SE), provides the academic
input into the basic research and application of materials technology and is world renowned for jointing technology. A Research
Institute, (ES), will provide the testing expertise. The Composite Partner, (DK), will address the development and production
aspects of materials and supply. The Project Co-ordinator, (GB), a civil engineering consultancy, will cover design aspects,
numerical modelling techniques, rapid prototyping, specification and will bring its project management skills to managing the
project. The Contracting Partner, (SE), will bring to bear experience of carrying out work in the field under all the conditions
imposed by the management of existing traffic and the excesses of the environment. The Surfacing and Supplier, (NL), will
develop surfacing materials which will bond to the profile and withstand to wear the traffic. ASSET offers the chance to develop an
advanced construction system for building Tomorrows infrastructure using tomorrows technology. Brite Euram III Areas covered
by the proposal are 2.2, 1.1, 2.1, 1.2, 1.5 and 1.4.

Coordinator
Mouchel Consulting Limited

United Kingdom

Parvis Road
West Byfleet, United Kingdom
Administrative contact: Sam FASHOLE-LUKE
Tel.: +44-1932-337147
Fax: +44-1932-356122

Participants
CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS

Spain

c/ Serrano Galvache s/n

MADRID, Spain
Administrative contact: Cecilio LOPEZ HOMBRADOS
Tel.: +34-1-3020440
Fax: +34-1-3020700
FIBERLINE COMPOSITE A/S

Denmark

Nr. Bjertvej 88
KOLDING, Denmark
Administrative contact: Henrik THORNING
Tel.: +45-75565333
Fax: +45-75565281
E-mail
HIM Chemie B.V.

Netherlands

Wijkermeerweg
Velsen-Noord, Netherlands
Administrative contact: Gerrit RIETVELD
Tel.: +31-251-276320
Fax: +31-251-225031
Oxfordshire County Council

United Kingdom

Speedwell Street
Oxford, United Kingdom
Administrative contact: Peter John BROWN
Tel.: +44-1865-815641

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Fax: +44-1865-815085
ROYAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Sweden

Teknikringen 8
Stockholm, Sweden
Administrative contact: Ingvar ERIKSSON
Tel.: +46-8790644 (3)
Fax: +46-8207865
E-mail
Skanska Teknik AB

Sweden

Danderyd, Sweden
Administrative contact: Bjoern TAELJSTEN
Tel.: +46-87538000
Fax: +46-87534973

Subjects
Materials Technology - Innovation, Technology Transfer - Industrial Manufacture
Last updated on 2002-04-19
Retrieved on 2014-11-03
Permalink: http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/46777_en.html
European Union, 2014

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