Infrastructure Applications
Composites have a long history of use throughout the infrastructure industry. They are often utilized as reinforcing materials in repair and retrofitting of existing infrastructure applications. Composites also are the material of choice for corrosion-resistant pipes and tanks. And more bridge decks are now made from FRP than ever before.
Composites Aid in Hurricane Sandy Recovery
In late October 2012, Hurricane Sandy tore through the northeast coast of the United States. Liberty Island, home to the Statue of Liberty, was in the direct path of the destructive hurricane. The 12-acre island is normally protected from extreme weather by the confines of the New York Harbor. However, flood waters from Hurricane Sandy covered 75 percent of the land, according to the U.S. National Park Service.
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Composites Carry an Electric Load
Nearly a decade ago, BC Hydro, an electric utility serving British Columbia saw that its transmission line stretching across 40 rugged miles along the northwest coast was nearing the end of its useful life. The wooden crossarms supporting the conductors that transmit electricity were beginning to rot. Furthermore, the utility realized it needed a better option to carry the additional electricity required for the region’s growing industry.
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A Movable Marvel
When the Denbighshire County Council in northern Wales bid out a pedestrian and cycle lifting bridge to cross the entrance of Foryd Harbor where the River Clwyd enters the sea, the desire to establish an iconic aesthetic was a top consideration. Of equal concern was the need to minimize the energy required to operate the lifting bridge in an efficient manner. The new pedestrian bridge – called the Pont y Draig, or Dragon Bridge – connects the town of Rhyl to Kinmel Bay.
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Installed Fast and Built to Last
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts hosts a variety of shows at its outdoor amphitheaters, ranging from jazz concerts to dance recitals. To walk from one facility to another, thousands of spectators often filed along a narrow curb over a vehicle bridge. The park put an end to this potentially dangerous situation by completing construction of a pedestrian bridge in April 2012.
