AIT Bridges (Brewer, Maine, USA), a division of Advanced Infrastructure Technology (AIT), a designer and supplier of composite bridge systems and structural components for commercial buildings, announced the addition of a composite tank on August 6 Beam to its composite bridge system product, called AIT CT Girder.
AIT CT beams consist of lightweight fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) tube beams supported on standard foundations with precast concrete slab decks or cast-in-place concrete bridge decks.
"Our composite beams will eventually be a game-changer in bridge construction," said Brit Svoboda, Chairman and CEO of AIT Bridges. "It's versatile, sturdy but lightweight and affordable, eventually replacing concrete on the market. And steel beams. "
AIT Bridges was developed in cooperation with the University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center (Orono, Maine, USA), and its composite arch bridge system has been on the market since 2010.
"For anyone who knows our arched system, AIT CT Girder is a natural extension of the product we already offer," Svoboda explained. "It can be used as a highway, railroad or pedestrian bridge, or even as part of building structures, parking garage systems, marine structures, and many other places where steel and concrete support beams are used."
The AIT CT beam is designed to provide an economical long-term solution for traditional reinforced concrete mid-span bridge decks. It is supported on a standard basis by a lightweight fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) tube beam with a precast concrete slab deck or cast-in-situ concrete bridge deck. The company says it can reach a span of 100 feet.
AIT Bridges claims that the beam system offers multiple advantages for bridge construction. The manufacturing process and installation are said to reduce the carbon footprint of traditional reinforced concrete beams. The girders require little maintenance, are naturally resistant to corrosion, and are made from materials designed to withstand environmental challenges. The system is 50% lighter than steel and 75% lighter than concrete beams. This weight reduction can reduce large equipment at the construction site and reduce transportation costs.
According to AIT Bridges, CT beams have the lowest life-cycle costs in the industry, and in many cases provide lower initial costs than similar steel and concrete solutions.