Advanced Composite Structural Members for Tall, Narrow Structures

This SBIR aims to effectively solve the corrosion problems which are being experienced with tall steel structures which are exposed to extremely harsh high humidity environments. R&D has been outlined to achieve the prime objectives needed to create a composite tower which is both structurally and economically viable. The proposers have had the good fortune of having designed composite transmission towers, wind turbine towers, and truss-type composite highway sign bridges and as such are intimately familiar with wind induced loading and dynamics, composites fatigue design, guyed structures, tower foundation and electrical grounding issues, and commercialization. A prime objective is to increase the stiffness of the structural members to enable the use of efficient, long length members. CSSI proposes to achieve this by using a hybrid combination of glassfiber, a novel steel-wire fabric, and a tough resin system. Additionally a novel set of joints are being proposed together with a new and structurally very stiff tower geometry which is being patented a "Isopanel" technology. CSSI will choose a steel baseline tower for which both structural performance and cost are well documented. The new composite tower designs will compete with this baseline tower for equivalent or better performance and cost.