Modular load bearing deck structure

Abstract

A load bearing support structure includes a load bearing support and a load bearing deck. Such a support structure may be used in the construction of a bridge.

1 . A load bearing bridge comprising: 
 a load bearing support, and a bridge deck, the deck comprising at least one panel, the at least one panel comprising:    one or more members, each of said members having at least four walls wherein at least one wall is a vertical wall and at least one wall is disposed at an oblique angle to said at least one vertical wall, such that said member, when viewed in cross-section, defines a polygonal shape, and wherein at least a portion of said bridge is formed of a polymer matrix composite material comprising reinforcing fibers and a polymer resin.    
     
     
         2 . The bridge according to  claim 1 , which the composite material is formed by a method selected from the group consisting of pultrusion, resin transfer molding, vacuum curing, and filament winding.  
     
     
         3 . The bridge as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the polymer matrix composite material is formed by pultrusion.  
     
     
         4 . The bridge as defined in  claim 2 , supported by at least one support beam.  
     
     
         5 . The bridge as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of said members has a wall positioned generally adjacent to one wall of an adjacent member.  
     
     
         6 . The bridge as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of said members are aligned longitudinally in a direction of span of said bridge deck.  
     
     
         7 . The structure as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of said core members are aligned transversely to the direction of span of said bridge deck.  
     
     
         8 . The bridge as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said members have a polygonal cross-section that defines a trapezoid.  
     
     
         9 . The bridge as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said members are elongated substantially hollow members.  
     
     
         10 . The bridge as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the members are formed integrally by pultrusion.  
     
     
         11 . The bridge as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of panels form said deck.  
     
     
         12 . The bridge as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said deck bears a wear surface overlying an upper surface of the deck.  
     
     
         13 . The bridge as defined in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the at least one panel is formed at least in part of a pultruded polymer matrix composite material, and each panel comprises a plurality of members which form a trapezoid when viewed in cross-section, and wherein each panel is adapted to be joined to an adjacent panel.    
     
     
         14 . The bridge as defined in  claim 13 , which includes an upper wall and a lower wall extending beyond the panel to define a receiving opening for an adjacent panel.  
     
     
         15 . The bridge as defined in  claim 1 , which includes an upper wall and a lower wall extending beyond each panel to define a receiving opening for an adjacent panel.  
     
     
         16 . The bridge as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one panel is an integrally formed, unitary pultruded panel comprising at least one pultruded member.  
     
     
         17 . A bridge comprising: 
 a load bearing deck; and    a support for supporting the load bearing deck;    the load bearing deck comprising:    at least one member formed at least in part from a polymer matrix composite material, the at least one member having at least four walls, wherein each member comprises at least one vertical wall, and at least one of the walls is disposed at an oblique angle to the at least one vertical wall, such that the members define a polygonal shape.    
     
     
         18 . A bridge according to  claim 17 , wherein the support comprises at least one beam.  
     
     
         19 . A bridge according to  claim 17 , wherein the polygonal shape is a trapezoid.  
     
     
         20 . A bridge according to  claim 19 , wherein a plurality of members are disposed in said deck in abutting relationship.  
     
     
         21 . A bridge according to  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the plurality of members is formed of a polymer matrix composite material by pultrusion.  
     
     
         22 . An integral load bearing deck structure comprising: 
 an upper surface;    a lower surface; and    a tube defined by the upper surface and lower surface and integral thereto, each tube comprising a polygonal shape of at least four walls including the upper surface and lower surface when viewed in cross-section, and including at least one vertical wall and at least one diagonal wall.    
     
     
         23 . An integral load bearing deck structure according to  claim 22 , wherein the polygonal shape is a trapezoid and the support structure is a bridge deck.  
     
     
         24 . An integral load bearing deck structure according to  claim 23 , which include an upper wall and lower wall extending beyond said polygonal shape to define a receiving opening.  
     
     
         25 . A load bearing deck comprising: 
 a least one panel formed of a polymer matrix composite material, said panel comprising a member having four walls, said members having two of opposed walls being provided with a facesheet formed integrally with the walls of the members, wherein at least one of the walls is disposed at an oblique angle to one of the other walls such that the walls define a polygonal shape when viewed in cross-section.    
     
     
         26 . A deck according to  claim 25 , wherein the polygonal shape is a trapezoid.  
     
     
         27 . A deck according to  claim 26 , wherein at least two of said members are positioned to abut one another to form the panel.  
     
     
         28 . A deck according to  claim 27 , wherein at least two of said walls extend beyond said polygonal shape to define a receiving opening.  
     
     
         29 . A deck according to  claim 25 , wherein at least two of said members abut one another.  
     
     
         30 . A deck according to  claim 28 , wherein said at least one panel comprises a plurality of interconnected members.  
     
     
         31 . A deck according to  claim 25 , wherein said at least one panel is an integrally formed, unitary pultruded panel comprising pultruded facesheets and at least one pultruded member.  
     
     
         32 . A load bearing integral deck structure comprising: 
 a composite member having at least four walls defining a first closed polygonal when viewed in cross section, said composite member having at least an oblique member connecting two of said four walls dividing said closed polygonal into at least a second and third closed polygonal when viewed in cross section, said oblique member connecting one of said four exterior walls to another of said four exterior walls at other than an intersection of any of said four walls.    
     
     
         33 . The structure of  claim 32 , wherein said first polygonal shape is rectangular.  
     
     
         34 . The structure of  claim 33 , wherein said second and third closed polygonals are trapezoidal.  
     
     
         35 . The structure of  claim 34 , wherein a series of said rectangular polygonal shapes are aligned in abutting relationship to form said load bearing structure.  
     
     
         36 . A load bearing integral deck structure comprising: 
 a member having at least four exterior walls and an oblique member connecting an interior of two of said four walls, said oblique member together with said portions of said two connected walls and one of said other walls defining a first and second closed polygonal when viewed in cross section, said oblique member connecting said two connected walls at other than an intersection of any of said four walls.    
     
     
         37 . A load bearing deck comprising: 
 a first face sheet,    a second face sheet,    two walls, each of said two walls extending substantially perpendicular to and between the two face sheets, and    an oblique wall located between the two walls and the two face sheets, the oblique wall dividing the space between the face sheets and two walls into two hollow trapezoids.    
     
     
         38 . A deck according to  claim 37 , wherein the face sheets and walls are integral.  
     
     
         39 . A deck according to  claim 37 , wherein the deck is a bridge deck.  
     
     
         40 . A deck according to  claim 37 , wherein the deck is a composite structure.  
     
     
         41 . A deck according to  claim 37 , wherein the deck is pultruded.  
     
     
         42 . A load bearing deck, comprising: 
 a first face sheet,    a second face sheet,    two walls, each of the two walls extending substantially perpendicular to and between the two face sheets, and an oblique wall located between the two face sheets and two walls, positioned such that the oblique wall does not intersect an intersection of a face sheet and a wall.    
     
     
         43 . A deck according to  claim 42 , wherein the face sheets and walls are integral.  
     
     
         44 . A deck according to  claim 42 , wherein the deck is a bridge deck.  
     
     
         45 . A deck according to  claim 42 , wherein the deck is a composite structure.  
     
     
         46 . A deck according to  claim 42 , wherein the deck is pultruded.