Competitive Advantages
- Lower cost alternative with greater buckling resistance as steel or timber columns. In numbers,11% less expensive than timber construction and 50% less than structural steel.
- Immune to natural degradations as in the case with the corrosion of steel or timber.
- A Securing cap on both ends of the composite holds the encased polymer. This provides a competitive edge for glass composites regarding their use in structures.
Summary
The rise in the construction cost can be related to the increase in the raw material costs like concrete, steel, timber, etc. On the other hand, these materials are prone to damages like corrosion and rotting, which further adds to the maintenance cost. In research of affordable and durable materials in the field of construction, our researchers have found a way of using novel composites in structural applications. Composites in construction have been used since the advent of times and have been improved upon according to the applications. With our research and development, we have been able to develop further advancements in this category. We have introduced a novel concept of a glass-reinforced composite column (GRCC) which benefits from the glass's unique properties related to the structural applications. This can significantly plummet the construction cost with equivalent strength as compared to traditional materials like steel and timber. Glass fiber reinforced polymer has been previously used in the construction, but our researchers have found a way of using further low-cost bulk cast glass in the composites. We have used glass (soda-lime glass) and non-glass (HDPE) layers to form a column structure that can withstand the required parameters needed in the construction industry. This novel approach would bring down the construction cost and provide a long-life composite material as strong as the conventional construction materials.
Cross-sectional view of GRCC column
Desired Partnerships
- License
- Sponsored Research
- Co-Development