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The bridges are vital structures for the transport infrastructure. It is a fact that, in the last decades, composite bridges became a well-liked solution in many European countries as a cost-effective and aesthetic alternative to concrete bridges. Their competitiveness depends on several circumstances such as site conditions, local costs of material and staff and the contractor´s experience. Beside the classical solutions, the new ones with efficient design and construction improve and consolidate the market position of steel construction and steel producing industry. The book contains the technical description, the construction details, economic aspects and the results of monitoring and testing of already executed bridge structures implementing composite dowels realised within the research RFCS project entitled Eco Bridge.

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Demonstration of ECOnomical BRIDGE Solutions Based on Innovative Composite Dowels and Integrated Abutments.- The Right Choice of Steel.- Sustainable Bridges / LCA for a Composite and a Concrete Bridge.- Design of Composite Dowels as Shear Connectors According to the German Technical Approval.- Field Measurements at a Composite Bridge with Composite Dowels as Shear Connectors.- Modern Composite Bridges by VFT-WIB Method in Poland Realized at New Express Road S7 at Olsztynek-Nidzica Sector.- Bridges by VFT Method in Poland: State-of-the-art.- Renewal of Old Existing Small Road Bridges with Modular System / Case Study Mânarau Bridge.- Integral Bridge Using the VFT-WIB Technology for a Three-spanned Structure.- Innovative Composite Overpasses on the Romanian A1 Motorway.

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Assoc. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Edward PETZEK teaches at the "Politehnica" University of Timisoara, Faculty of Civil Engineering and starting with the year 2006 he leads the design office SSF-RO Ltd. Mr. Petzek is an ECCS member in the Bridge Committee and in the Commission TC6.

Prof. Dr. Ing. Radu BANCILA is Professor for Steel Constructions at the University "POLITEHNICA" Timisoara (Romania), Faculty for Civil Engineering.

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