Modification or repair of fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) structures

Conference · Thu Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1998

OSTI ID:350215

Johnson, Jr, J G; Bigante, S; Julius, W H ^[1]

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1. KTA Engineering, Pittsburgh, PA (United States)

As fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) continues to grow as a material of construction in applications such as tanks, packed bed scrubbers, piping, ductwork, and specialty equipment, the number of FRP structures which require repair or which have in some way lost their utility as they were initially designed will continue to grow. In some instances, damaged or obsolete FRP structures may be modified or repaired to a condition which can provide extended service lifetimes; this may result in lower life cycle costs than wholesale replacement. A number of factors must be assessed prior to design of repairs or modifications, such as the current condition of the structure, the material used in the initial fabrication, and the goals of the project. A thorough examination of these factors will help assess the plausibility and type of modification(s) required. A procedure for surface preparation and laminate application is provided.

• OSTI ID: 350215
• Report Number(s): CONF-980316--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
EQUIPMENT
LIFE-CYCLE COST
MODIFICATIONS
REINFORCED PLASTICS
REPAIR
SERVICE LIFE