On Wednesday, at a hearing of the United States House of Representatives Science, Space and Technology Committee Research and Technology Subcommittee, members of the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) testified that as the United States seeks innovative solutions for its infrastructure, Congress should Support efforts to establish specifications and standards, allowing designers and engineers to build composite materials with confidence.
Shane Weyant, President and Chief Executive Officer of Creative Pultrusions, urged members of the Subcommittee to support the availability of infrastructure technology in the 21st century. Based on information he identified in the 2017 Energy and Commerce Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection Subcommittee, during this period, He explained that composites provide long-lasting, sustainable, and cost-effective solutions for infrastructure applications. In the months following Weyant's 2017 testimony, North America suffered one of the most recent hurricane seasons, which further Stressed the urgent need to use innovative technology to rebuild the country's infrastructure.
Weyant said: 'Hurricanes Irma and Maria have shot down all eight telephone poles in the 'Virgin Islands', all eight of which are composites. ' 'Until all other materials fail, the composite remains intact. '
However, Weyant pointed out that although composites have many advantages over traditional materials, the lack of awareness and standards for composites is a major obstacle to their adoption. Last year, ACMA partnered with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to promote manufacturers. , Academia and end-user seminars lay the foundation for creating a 'roadmap' document on how to overcome these barriers. If implemented, the recommendations outlined in the document may lead to more reliable, more durable and more cost-effective options than current basic materials. Composite materials.
'NIST has the unique ability to summarize existing standards and design data for composites and verify their widespread dissemination and use,' said Weyant.
According to Joannie Chin, deputy director of the NIST Engineering Laboratory, one of the recommendations is to find a way to develop reliable data and design guidance to provide adequate safety margins for composite materials.
'NIST has the expertise to address these needs,' Chin said. He explained that NIST has been studying composite materials since the 1980s. 'For example, in order to study durability, we have developed a method that can show the molecular nature of damage to composite materials. Sensors. We also have a unique device that can accelerate the weathering effects of materials and large test facilities and evaluate the impact of heavy loads on advanced composite structures.
Chin added that in addition to improving endurance testing and standards, designers and engineers also need a “exchange office” consisting of a planning guide and a completed project data sheet to help engineers and designers use composite materials and provide materials. Confidence in Performance and Lifespan. Chin specifically cites NIST's Materials Genome Project, which helps the composite industry capture and share information about material properties.
Professor David Lange, a professor of civil engineering and a glass steel expert at the University of Illinois, elaborated on another obstacle mentioned in the NIST report - increasing university-level training and education. Lange pointed out in his testimony that in the 220 civil engineering undergraduate courses in the United States Structural steel and reinforced concrete have received attention because of their widespread use in industry. On the contrary, FRP is rarely involved in the education of civil engineers, especially in four-year undergraduate courses.
'The courses that specialize in fiberglass and structural restoration and rehabilitation do not actually exist,' Lange said. 'This effectively cuts off the opportunities for invigorating the industry with the new generation. In addition, young practitioners are highly qualified and have professional licenses. The guidance of the structural engineer therefore has little chance of challenging the dominant design pattern.
The Research and Technical Subcommittee also heard from ACMA member Dr. Hota GangaRao, Ph.D., the distinguished professor of the Stirling School of Engineering at West Virginia University. Dr. Ganga Rao, who testified with Weyant in 2017, believes that not every DOT is independent. Development standards, national standards will improve industry efficiency and save costs by reducing the development of redundant standards.
Dr. GangaRao also called for Congress to pass NIST's strict implementation of standards and requested future government projects to consider composite materials as an alternative design, including the inclusion of composite materials as approved materials.
'The Congress can use FRP composites to provide funding for preventive maintenance and repairs nationwide, which will help save a lot of in-use structures, not replace them,' Dr. GangaRao said. 'Only a dedicated repair fund flow is required.' DOT and other infrastructure owners can use FRP composites to repair structures in the early stages of deterioration, and then small cracks become large layers.
For more information, please click here to view the hearing page, which includes videos and transcripts for each testimony.