Numerical Modelling of Composite Timber – Liapor Concrete Road Bridge Structure

The paper presents the modelling of composite timber - Liapor concrete bridge structure by finite element method with the use of ABAQUS and COSMOSM software. The basic girder is a T-cross section, with the web made of glulam, and flange made of lightweight Liapor concrete. Lightweight Liapor concrete has been chosen due to its low volume weight, which in addition to low volume weight of timber provides an ideal lightweight bridge girder, replaceable at the spot if required. Girders will be examined in experiments at the Laboratory of the Institute for Technical Mechanics, Faculty of Civil Engineering University of Zagreb. The aim of this research is to design better and more cost-effective bridge girders with a durability of approximately 30 years, easily replaceable on the spot, where traffic would be closed only for a short time for maintenance of the bearing structure. The objective of these numerical analyses is to define the optimum dimensions of the cross section of the main girder, and the best options of composing timber with Liapor concrete. The aim is also to determine the behaviour and potential uses of such a bridge system for road transport.