Fiberglass Composite: Some History
Marine applications have many technologies to choose from when it comes to pilings. Pressure Treated Wood, PT Pilings, concrete pilings, Encapsulated Wood, PVC, and Fiberglass. Harbor Technologies designs and manufactures Fiberglass Composite Pilings. This article will outline some of the structural and lifetime benefits of the Fiberglass Pile.
Although drawing glass into a very fine fiber was done in the 19th century or before, industrially produced fiberglass was invented in 1938 within Owens-Corning. Initially used for insulation. By the mid to late '50s fiberglass earned its respect as a building material for boats. Since it will not rot like wood, nor corrode like metals it was the perfect material in the marine environment, especially salt water environment.
Today: A Highly Engineered Material
In practice today, specialty woven mats, glass fibers, and various resins are available to attain
the cost performance for the market application. Unlike a block of cast iron or other metal, fiberglass constructed materials do not have the same mechanical characteristics in all directions. A fiberglass pile is therefore, designed with specific combination and orientation of fiberglass mats and fibers to meet the application. The mats and fibers are soaked in resin. The type of resin used in the fiberglass also is a significant predictor of ultimate strength, and I should add, price. Whether we like it or not, there is often a trade-off between price and performance. Choices are generally made based on the typical requirements of the application.
Testing: Prerequisite to Quality
If you ever consider a structural product where it seems difficult to get reliable looking test data, the author's advice is: RUN ! Structural reliability relies on two manufacturing functions, testing of the design of the product being manufactured, and as important, a high degree of control over the manufacturing processes and materials. Harbor Technologies works very closely with the AEWC (Advanced Structures & Composites Center) which is part of the University of Maine.
