COMPOSITES IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND CONSTRUCTION

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Infrastructure and construction projects have historically leaned on legacy materials such as metal, wood or concrete. However, the inherent corrosion resistance, durability and light weight of composites makes them attractive for a wide range of infrastructure and construction applications, such as bridge decks, utility poles, rail components, rebar and more.

Further, in the United States, the passage of a new infrastructure bill points to an imminent increase in activity related to infrastructure construction and rehabilitation. Composite materials are expected to play a significant role in this effort. Specifically, as the building and construction industry increasingly favors sustainable materials and designs, composites are expected to be specified for use in a variety of applications.

Understanding the advantages of composite materials, how they are manufactured, and the applications they are best suited for is critical. CompositesWorld’s CW Tech Days: Infrastructure event offers a series of expert presentations on composite materials, processes and applications that should and will be considered for use in the infrastructure and construction markets. Topics include FRP rebar, bridge building, bridge repair, rail structures, marine structures and composites design for commercial construction.

To learn more, join us for the live CW Tech Days event or register to receive the recorded presentation.

Presentations

Robert Walker

How the composites industry must evolve to enable wider adoption in Infrastructure and construction. Presented by Robert Walker.

Past efforts to increase adoption have relied on convincing stakeholders to pay a higher upfront cost for secondary savings such as lower maintenance costs or a longer installation lifetime. This has resulted in incremental growth with faster adoption hampered by the fragmented and conservative nature of the infrastructure and construction market. However, at Future Materials Group we believe a more transformative approach to growing composites is now possible, shifting the focus from customized solutions to products.

Romain Coullette

Carbon fiber structural reinforcement in civil engineering: Largely untapped potential. Presented by Romain Coullette.

Although carbon fibers have been used for decades to strengthen structures made with concrete, masonry, steel or cast iron, the construction industry worldwide is just starting to acknowledge the many benefits composite reinforcement has to offer. While countless worn constructions such as bridges will have to be retrofitted or repaired in the coming years, you will understand why innovative composite solutions are often the quickest, most effective and most economical solution to do the job. We’ll also share recent insights, examples and trends from Epsilon Composites’ 35 years of experience in pioneering the use of carbon fibers in infrastructures worldwide.

Ken Sweeney

Sustainable materials for the future of transportation infrastructure. Presented by Ken Sweeney.

The future of the infrastructure industry is dependent on how sustainable and resilient the planning, manufacturing, and construction of projects are. As we build and design infrastructure to be safe and last as long as possible, we need to take into consideration the life-cycle assessment (LCA) of our structures and the environmental product declarations of the materials we use to build them. Infrastructure should have low life cycle costs and have as little impact on the natural environment as possible. The use of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) in infrastructure is a part of the solution to design and build sustainable projects that will stand the test of time.

Scott Reeve

FRP connections offer new ways to move people. Presented by Scott Reeve.

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) pedestrian bridges, rail platforms and cantilever sidewalks for vehicle bridges provide durable, creative modes of moving people that are becoming increasingly popular. With the U.S. population expected to reach 335 million in 2023, more Americans are using cars, trains, bicycles, motorcycles and their own two feet to reach their destinations. When it comes to the infrastructure needed to support this traffic, the focus typically spotlights roads and vehicle bridges. FRP’s design flexibility, light weight, corrosion resistance, aesthetics and fast installation continues to drive adoption of these alternate products by states, cities and transportation agencies across the nation. The public gains choices for both commuting and recreation that are safer and more attractive. Owners get long lasting, sustainable structures. And because FRP platforms, bridges and sidewalks are lightweight prefabricated structures, construction downtime—and its impact on the public—is minimal.

Mo Ehsani

Innovative FRP solutions for repair of aging critical infrastructure. Presented by Mo Ehsani.

Since its introduction in the late 1980s, FRP wet layup solutions have been successfully used worldwide to repair and strengthen buildings and bridges. This presentation focuses on some recent developments by the speaker that offer unique solutions for challenging infrastructure renewal applications. Among these are repair of submerged piles, seawalls and bulkheads, repair of pipelines including those for the oil and gas industries, and the construction of a record-breaking large diameter pipe near the jobsite that eliminated much of the transportation issues. Case studies from around the world where these sustainable solutions are used by the US military and other clients will be presented.

Joe Fox

Key attributes and benefits of FRP composites for infrastructure and construction applications. Presented by Joe Fox.

There is an extremely good fit between fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites and the present and future infrastructure needs of our nation and the world. This presentation will illustrate the weight benefits, ease of installation, corrosion resistance, durability, resiliency to natural disasters, and lower life cycle costs of FRP composites in applications such as buildings, bridges, piers, seawalls and other categories of ASCE’s Infrastructure Report Card. Particular emphasis will be placed on how FRP composites can enable 1) decarbonization during construction and operation and 2) lightweight additions to existing structures.

Francesco Ierullo

Forward-thinking composites for infrastructure. Presented by Francesco Ierullo.

Composites offer many solutions to our increasing infrastructure challenges. From extending the performance and capacity of power transmission lines to protecting against rising sea levels and helping ensure better 5G connectivity in our businesses and homes, the benefits of composites can be realized in various industries and applications. In this presentation Francesco Ierullo, Head of Sales Region Americas for Exel Composites, presents how composite conductor cores increase safety and capacity in power transmission, how corrosion resistant composites help protect our buildings against rising seas, how we can increase building energy efficiency with composite window and door frames, and finally how composites play a key role in keeping us connected with 5G.

Aparna Deshmukh

Nonmetallic reinforcement in concrete construction – what engineers should know. Presented by Aparna Deshmukh.

NEx envisions a future where everyone has the knowledge needed to use nonmetallic materials and products in the built environment effectively to meet the demands of an evolving world. One of the applications of nonmetallics in construction is the use of nonmetallic reinforcement. In September, ACI released a new code for GFRP-reinforced concrete structures referred to as ACI CODE 440.11-22. To supplement this code, NEx is developing a manual that will provide guidance for engineers to effectively design with GFRP rebars. NEx will share some of these experiences and expand on other upcoming NEx-funded manuals and specifications.