Innovative FRP space frame structure for pedestrian bridge application

This paper is to present an innovative space frame structure made from pultruded FRP tubular members for pedestrian bridge application. The joint connecting tubular FRP members were specially designed to incorporate a steel tubular connector into the tubular FRP member. Adhesive bonding was applied at one end of the steel tubular connector and the other end was flattened to enable easy connection with other structural members using mechanical bolts. Experimental investigations demonstrated that the components with the proposed joint configuration performed well in both compression and tension. A space frame structure assembled in this way for pedestrian bridge application was examined using finite element program to evaluate its serviceability and ultimate limit states.