Ken Sweeney, P.E., ENV-SP
Group President & Chief Engineer
AIT Bridges
FRP Girder Design, Manufacturing, and Utilization Considerationss
The purpose of this presentation is to use case studies to talk about FRP girder design, manufacturing, and utilization considerations. For many decades, the vast majority of bridges and structures have been constructed using traditional building materials such as timber, concrete and steel. Today, more people are understanding the need to shift towards more sustainable options. AIT’s FRP girder design is constantly improving and there have been some considerable changes since the design and construction of the Grist Mill Bridge in 2020. Ridges have been added to the top flange in order to improve the shear flow connections. Additionally, some changes were made to improve structural strength while using less materials. The technology is simple, transferrable and can be easily set up anywhere in the world. FRP girders are best suited for medium span bridges and are great for spans that cross over waterways, especially saltwater because of their non-corrosive properties. They are also great for construction projects with tight time constraints. The case studies that will be highlighted in this presentation will help explain FRP girder design, manufacturing, and utilization by showing real world projects that have and will be completed.
Ken Sweeney, P.E., ENV-SP, Bio
Ken leads the senior management team at AIT Bridges, ensuring day-to-day operations are successful and strategic goals are met. He spreads information about the benefits of composites to the structural engineering community through conventions and seminars. He is one of the leaders fighting for composites to be more prominent in this industry. As the former Chief Engineer of Maine DOT, Ken provides a deep understanding of the problems we face in our transportation infrastructure.