This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will develop and market a long span, advanced composite material (ACM), structural system for use in pedestrian and vehicle bridge and building applications. A state of the art pultrusion process will be assembled, including use of resin-injection/air evacuation equipment and computerized numerically controlled (CNC) machining, to achieve this long span system. Carbon and aramid fibers will be incorporated into the E-glass matrix to increase strength and stiffness of the advanced composite material. Custom profiles will be designed using this new material. A successful Phase I effort will lead to full scale testing of this new building system in Phase II. Commercial applications will include long span pedestrian and vehicle bridges, long span building components for roofs and canopy type applications, and long span industrial support structures.
