Wooden bridge deck with fiber-reinforced plastic coating

Abstract

An innovative composite decking concept employing a wooden core surrounded by a fiber-reinforced plastic material is described. The invention is low-cost, durable, and performs well structurally.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A bridge deck comprising a wooden core and a layer of a corrosion resistant fiber-reinforced plastic, said layer of said fiber-reinforced plastic encasing said wooden core.  
     
     
         2 . The bridge deck according to  claim 1  wherein the wooden core is selected from regular lumber, laminated veneer lumber, plywood, glulum beams, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The bridge deck according to  claim 2  wherein said fiber-reinforced plastic comprises a fiberglass reinforced plastic.  
     
     
         4 . The bridge deck according to  claim 2  wherein said fiber-reinforced plastic comprises a carbon fiber reinforced plastic.  
     
     
         5 . The bridge deck according to  claim 2  wherein said wooden core comprises a plurality of wooden core elements.  
     
     
         6 . The bridge deck according to  claim 5  further comprising rot resistant barriers between said wooden core elements.  
     
     
         7 . The bridge deck according to  claim 2  wherein said wooden core additionally comprises rebar.  
     
     
         8 . The bridge deck according to  claim 2  wherein said wooden core is pressure treated with a chemical to help prevent rotting.  
     
     
         9 . The bridge deck according to  claim 2  wherein said fiber-reinforced plastic is attached to said wooden core using a vacuum infusion process.  
     
     
         10 . The bridge deck according to  claim 2  further comprising a non-skid wearing surface that provides traction and protects said fiber-reinforced plastic.  
     
     
         11 . The bridge deck according to  claim 2  wherein said bridge deck has a deck bending stiffness, and said layer of said fiber-reinforced plastic provides less than about one-half of said deck bending stiffness.  
     
     
         12 . The bridge deck according to  claim 2  wherein said layer of said fiber-reinforced plastic is less than about 5 mm (0.2 inch) thick.  
     
     
         13 . A manhole cover comprising a wooden core, and a layer of a corrosion resistant fiber-reinforced plastic, wherein said wooden core is selected from regular lumber, laminated veneer lumber, plywood, glulum beams, and combinations thereof, and said layer of said fiber-reinforced plastic encases said wooden core.  
     
     
         14 . A building material comprising a wooden core selected from regular lumber, laminated veneer lumber, plywood, glulum beams and combinations thereof, encased within a layer of corrosion resistant fiber-reinforced plastic.  
     
     
         15 . The building material according to  claim 14  wherein the fiber-reinforced plastic comprises a fiberglass-reinforced plastic.  
     
     
         16 . The building material according to  claim 14  wherein the fiber-reinforced plastic comprises a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic.  
     
     
         17 . The building material according to  claim 14  wherein the layer of said fiber-reinforced plastic is less than about 5 mm (0.2 inch) thick.