Stratford, Tim

Aberfeldy footbridge was a milestone in the development of FRP composites for construction when it was completed in October 1992. Whilst there are now longer FRP-decked bridges, the cable-stayed Aberfeldy bridge still has the longest span. It was something of a demonstration project for FRP construction, combining a pultruded GRP deck, towers and parapet system with aramid parallel-fibre cables. The bridge has now been in-service for close to 20 years in the Scottish Highlands, and during that time has received little maintenance. It is timely to return to the bridge and assess its durability. This paper describes the condition of the bridge, including its overall structural performance, the state of the GRP components, the performance of the parapet, and the structure’s dynamic response. The paper provides lessons for the design of future FRP composites bridges and structures

The Condition of the Aberfeldy Footbridge after 20 Years in Service

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