Bridge Project for PNG Forest products

Project Member(s): Crews, K.

Funding or Partner Organisation: PNG Forest Products Pty Ltd

Start year: 2013

Summary: This research and development project is a sub set of a wider project to develop a suit of timber bridge components for the remediation of traditional timber bridges in Australia together with new kit bridges to the PNG and South Pacific market. The first phase in this project is to develop a plywood decking system which replaces the traditional hardwood planks which are used extensively throughout Australia. Plywood deck planks are envisaged to be up to 12m long, 1.2m wide and ranging in thickness from 50 to 200mm. The second phase is to develop economical modular kit bridges primarily for the domestic PNG market and secondly export to Australia ns the South Pacific region. The purpose of the research is to verify that the plywood deck and module designs meet the performance requirements of the relevant Australian standards, in particular AS5100 and AS1720, as well as meet the approval requirements of New South Wales Roads and Traffic Authority, Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads and Vicroads.

Keywords: timber, bridges

FOR Codes: Structural Engineering, Timber, Pulp and Paper, Timber Materials, Structural engineering , Timber, pulp and paper

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.