8 March 2002
New report highlights the advantages of fibre reinforced polymer composites
A new report published by CIRIA explains how to use fibre reinforced polymer composites in construction. Prepared by Buro Happold, working with the University of Bath, and jointly funded by the DTI through their Partners in Innovation scheme, the report aims to increase understanding of FRP composites, which have so far had limited use in construction.
The report findings will also be presented and illustrated in a seminar at the RIBA in London on 8 April. This session has been designed for architects and engineers not familiar with FRP composites, to introduce the materials and their application. Using case studies of successful built projects the seminar will explain the potential benefits and disadvantages of the materials, and how best to design with FRP composites.
Fibre-reinforced polymer composites work by combining the inherent strength of thin fibres with the environmental protection afforded by the resin that binds them together. There are a range of fibres and resins that can be combined in different ways to produce a material with properties tailored to the requirements of the project.
FRP composites can bring added value through their high strength-to-weight ratio as compared to other materials, their ability to survive harsh environments, and the fact that they can be formed into complex shapes. They can also be fire resistant, and their low weight brings installation benefits in space-cramped and time-critical projects. The combination of these means that the composite solution can be cheaper than any alternative, particularly in terms of whole life cost.
Further information on the report and seminar can be found at http://www.ciria.org.uk
People involved in the report:
Buro Happold
Andrew Cripps (lead author), Ian Liddell, Ollie Kelly, Andrew Best
University of Bath
Prof Bryan Harris, Dr Tim Ibell
Press Office and Practice information at
Buro Happold is a multi-disciplinary international practice of consulting engineers established in 1976 offering civil and structural engineering, mechanical and electrical engineering, quantity surveying, building services and environmental engineering, infrastructure and traffic engineering, geotechnical engineering, façade engineering, fire engineering, computational fluid dynamics analysis, access consultancy, project management, urban design and a range of specialist CAD services.