Wagners Composite Fibre Technologies (CFT) has supplied road bridges across the globe from the sweltering tropics and burning deserts to sub-zero temperatures. Designed and built to local road authority standards, our full in-house design team work closely with clients to ensure a robust, fit for purpose and aesthetically pleasing road transport asset. The unique durability, strength, corrosion-proof and termite proof properties of Wagners Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) structures is perfect for coastal, marine and environmentally sensitive areas. Assembled in a controlled environment with precise tolerances and attention to detail, Wagners structures are a superior product.
Serviceability vs. Strength Criteria:
While traditional materials are primarily designed for strength, FRP structural profiles are designed more with serviceability in mind. Strength criteria involve ensuring that the material can withstand loads without failing. Serviceability criteria focus on factors like deflection, deformation, and other performance aspects that affect the functionality and usability of the structure.
Modulus of Elasticity:
The modulus of elasticity measures a material’s stiffness, or its ability to resist deformation under load. Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) typically has a lower modulus of elasticity compared to materials like steel. This means they deform more under the same load.
Design Emphasis on Stiffness:
Because FRP structural profiles have a lower modulus of elasticity, their structural design often prioritizes stiffness rather than just strength. This means ensuring the FRP structure maintains its shape and rigidity under load, even if it may not have the same strength as traditional materials like steel.
Strength Reserves:
Due to the emphasis on stiffness in the design process, FRP structures often have large strength reserves. This means they may possess more strength than what is strictly necessary to meet the serviceability criteria, providing a safety margin against unexpected loads or variations in material properties.
The structural design of FRP differs slightly from that of traditional materials, whereby the serviceability criteria generally dominates the design process. Typically, traditional materials are designed for strength, and serviceability checks are performed. Due to a comparatively lower modulus of elasticity than that of traditional materials (such as steel), composite structures are generally designed to meet the stiffness criteria, and as a result usually contain large strength reserves.
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