KleVerStaB

What is this project about?
Road traffic volumes, particularly the proportion of heavy goods vehicles, and the resulting load on bridges have increased to an extent that could not previously have been foreseen. This trend leads to an increased risk of failure due to plate buckling or fatigue, particularly in older steel bridges. Currently, stiffeners are predominantly fabricated using welding techniques. However, due to the heat input, the associated microstructural changes and the notch effect, welding is only of limited suitability for renovation works. In this context, adhesive bonding offers a promising alternative, as it does not impair the material of the components to be joined. This project aims to develop adhesive joints as an effective alternative to traditional welded and bolted joints in the rehabilitation of steel bridges. This is particularly relevant for cross-sections that are exposed to an increased risk of buckling. A central focus is on the durability and fatigue resistance of the adhesive joints.

What motivated you to participate in this call for proposals? Where did the idea come from?
The idea for this project is based on the completed ZIM cooperation project “KlebVerstärk – Increasing the bending stiffness and retrofitting components at risk of buckling in steel bridge construction using adhesive joints”. In this project, a failure criterion for the load-bearing capacity design of adhesive layers was developed, which provides a conservative and reliable load-bearing capacity prediction for adhesive joints. In order to successfully apply adhesive bonding technology in practice, the topics of durability and fatigue resistance in particular must be investigated further.
Based on these findings, a design and construction method is being developed that enables the reliable application of adhesive joints in steel bridge construction.

What benefits does this project bring to society and/or in terms of sustainability?
Many bridges in Germany already exhibit significant defects. The associated restrictions on use cause considerable economic damage. Bonding stiffeners represents an effective solution for reinforcing sections at risk of buckling and enables simple retrofitting to circumvent the disadvantages of welding. A further advantage of this method is the extension of the service life of existing steel bridges, thereby enabling more sustainable use and a reduction in new construction costs.

Who else is joining in?
The project is being carried out in cooperation with NEUERO RAILTEC GmbH.