United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force

University of Dayton

Keith Bryan Bowman

Brian Patrick Rice

David H Mollenhauer

John Paul Mistretta

James Andrew Lute

Ronald Dean Cornwell

Allan Stanislaus Crasto

A monocoque fiber reinforced plastic composite modular bridge structure and fabrication method are described in which, in a preferred embodiment, one or more bridge modules of selected length and cross-section are fabricated by applying composite fabric over a mandrel of substantially the intended shape of the module, enclosing the mandrel and composite in a vacuum bag, infusing the fabric with resin, preferably utilizing the vacuum assisted resin transfer molding process, allowing the resin and fabric to cure, and applying finishing operations to the module for installation at a bridge site.

Stressed-skin modular fiber reinforced plastic bridge

A method for fabricating a fiber reinforced composite bridge module is described which in one preferred embodiment includes the steps of selecting a cross-sectional shape for the bridge module defined by an outer substantially tubular shell having a top side and a bottom side, and a floor deck near the bottom side and at least one keel beam beneath the floor deck and extending lengthwise of the outer shell, the outer shell, floor deck and keel beams defining a plurality of passageways along the length of the module, winding fiber and impregnating material on mandrels in a plurality tubular sections defining the plurality of passageways, joining the plurality of tubular sections in side-by-side relationship in an assembly substantially defining in cross section the cross-sectional shape of the module, winding fiber and impregnating material around the assembly to a preselected thickness for the outer shell; and curing the fiber and impregnating material.

Modular fiber reinforced plastic enclosed bridge

A structural member is reinforced by applying an adhesive material between a reinforcement surface of the structural member and an adhesion surface of a support plate, positioning a vacuum assembly adjacent to an exposed surface of said support plate so as to create an inner space between an exterior surface of said vacuum assembly and said reinforcement surface, and creating a partial vacuum in said inner space so as to force said vacuum assembly and said plate towards said reinforcement surface. A prefabricated vacuum assembly is a vacuum assembly comprising a flexible porous film, a flexible non-porous film, and a flexible sheet of breather material positioned between said porous film and said non-porous film.

Pre-fabricated vacuum bag and vacuum bag process to externally reinforce

Growing community of inventors

Casstown, OH, United States of America

Keith Bryan Bowman