MAADI Showcases Modular Aluminum Bridges at INALCO 2019

Introducing GuarDECK® and the Light Vehicle Tactical Bridge (LVTB)

Boucherville, Quebec, Canada—November 12, 2019—MAADI Group, Inc. President Alexandre de la Chevrotière, IWE, P. Eng., is proud to present GuarDECK^® aluminum bridge decking system and the Light Vehicle Tactical Bridge (LVTB) – an aluminum modular bridge – at the prestigious INALCO 2019 Japan – 14th International Aluminum Conference, Advantages of Aluminum Structures on Environments. The conference showcases world class innovations related to aluminum structures.

De la Chevrotière’s presentation will focus on two specific aluminum extrusion products for a deploy-ready bridge that MAADI Group, Inc.—a leading global aluminum engineering design and building company for the civil and marine industries based in Canada—has developed. GuarDeck is a non-welded aluminum bridge deck that would be shipped as a kit worldwide. Light Vehicle Tactical Bridge (LVTB), an aluminum modular bridge, would be used as a military bridge for small vehicles or for civil security in case of natural disasters.

Academic Collaboration with the University of Waterloo

“Adhering to the Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) concept, the two structures require minimal set up and are of a lightweight, versatile material to reduce dead load and maintenance,” said de la Chevrotière. He added that both of these engineer-designed products offer quick installation and minimal disruption to people and traffic. In his presentation the MAADI Group CEO will touch on the fact that product research is taking place in cooperation with the University of Waterloo, Ontario. Through in-house structural analyses the university’s research team will be testing real-life situations while refining existing models to better anticipate aluminum’s behavior under the effects of static, mobile and environmental loads in the university’s lab and onsite.

“I am honored to be presenting MAADI Group’s two new aluminum products at a conference that showcases the most innovative products and research with respect to light metal structures worldwide.”

Future Applications of Aluminum Modular Bridge Decking in Civil Infrastructure

If the continued research on fatigue performance proves successful, de la Chevrotière said that MAADI Group can imagine many more applications, such as governments and municipalities replacing aging decks on small bridges for pedestrian applications or on residential or rural roads, and replacing heavier decks on bridges carrying regular highway traffic up to 33,000 lb. (15 metric ton) vehicles.

The conference will be held from November 13-15 at the Ito International Research Center, The University of Tokyo in Tokyo, Japan and is organized by the Japan Light Metal Welding Association and the Japan Aluminium Association.