49
2
2.3.5 Building and Construction
Buildings and their construction are an area that may register the
maximum consumption of composites due to the vastness and large
volumes of the products (i.e. buildings and other civil structures).
The construction industry holds enormous promise in the use of
composites in doors and windows, paneling, furniture, nonstructural gratings, long span roof structures, tanks, bridge components,
column wraps, cladding, and the repair of concrete, complete bridge
systems, and other interiors. A 130-foot-long pedestrian composite
bridge was made in Denmark in 1997, and its picture is shown in
. Fig. 2.22.
Components made of composite materials find extensive applications in civil structures, door panels, door/window frames, kitchen
furniture, etc. with advantages like corrosion resistance, longer life,
low maintenance, ease in workability, fire retardancy, etc. Due to the
high dielectric property of glass-reinforced composites, they also are
being used for the fabrication of high-voltage electrical transmission
towers from pultruded composite sections using a ‘snap and build’
assembly procedure. This process eliminates the use of fasteners and
adhesives. The weight of such composite assemblies is less than half
that of conventional steel equivalent structures. The composite components can be readily airlifted into remote areas and assembled by
small teams. This eliminates the often inaccessibility through roads.
In addition, the inherent insulating characteristics of composites
permits closer placement of the ceramic holder for the cables, reducing the overall tower size. This leads to general cost reduction.
Partitions, polymer concrete, prefabricated buildings, kiosks,
cabins/housing, structural/decorative building elements, bridge
elements/sections, furniture, fencing, railings, etc. are more applications of composites in the construction industry.
. Fig. 2.22 A 130-foot-long pedestrian composite bridge [41]
2.3 · Applications of Polymeric Composites
2
2.3.5 Building and Construction
Buildings and their construction are an area that may register the
maximum consumption of composites due to the vastness and large
volumes of the products (i.e. buildings and other civil structures).
The construction industry holds enormous promise in the use of
composites in doors and windows, paneling, furniture, nonstructural gratings, long span roof structures, tanks, bridge components,
column wraps, cladding, and the repair of concrete, complete bridge
systems, and other interiors. A 130-foot-long pedestrian composite
bridge was made in Denmark in 1997, and its picture is shown in
. Fig. 2.22.
Components made of composite materials find extensive applications in civil structures, door panels, door/window frames, kitchen
furniture, etc. with advantages like corrosion resistance, longer life,
low maintenance, ease in workability, fire retardancy, etc. Due to the
high dielectric property of glass-reinforced composites, they also are
being used for the fabrication of high-voltage electrical transmission
towers from pultruded composite sections using a ‘snap and build’
assembly procedure. This process eliminates the use of fasteners and
adhesives. The weight of such composite assemblies is less than half
that of conventional steel equivalent structures. The composite components can be readily airlifted into remote areas and assembled by
small teams. This eliminates the often inaccessibility through roads.
In addition, the inherent insulating characteristics of composites
permits closer placement of the ceramic holder for the cables, reducing the overall tower size. This leads to general cost reduction.
Partitions, polymer concrete, prefabricated buildings, kiosks,
cabins/housing, structural/decorative building elements, bridge
elements/sections, furniture, fencing, railings, etc. are more applications of composites in the construction industry.
. Fig. 2.22 A 130-foot-long pedestrian composite bridge [41]
2.3 · Applications of Polymeric Composites