Press Release:
News for Immediate Release

University of Wisconsin - Madison Presents Best Overall Technical Paper at COMPOSITES+POLYCON 2009

January 21, 2009 (Arlington, Va.) - A team of authors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison won Best Overall Technical Paper at COMPOSITES+POLYCON 2009, held January 15-17 in Tampa, Fla., for the paperDurable Fiber Reinforced Polymer Bar Splice Connections for Precast Concrete Structures.  The paper, awarded by the Technical Papers Committee of the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA), was written and presented by Andrew J. Tibbetts, Michael G. Oliva, and Lawrence C. Bank, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisc.

The goal of this research was to develop and test alternative methods for connecting precast concrete structural members with non-metallic FRP components. Although precast concrete structures can reduce construction time and the overall cost of structures such as bridge decks, parking garages, and tilt-up wall construction, connecting the precast members in a safe and efficient manner can be challenging. The spliced steel reinforcing bars are susceptible to corrosion, which can lead to deterioration of the strength of the structure. The researchers tested the use of FRP bars to replace the steel, with the goal of offering the construction community a more durable connection, not susceptible to corrosion, for longer lasting precast members. The results of the research with FRP bar splice connections demonstrated that 10 ½ inches of embedment length was needed to achieve a good performing connection for precast panels. This has the potential to open new markets for FRP rebar manufacturers.

Thirty-one (31) final papers were reviewed by the committee this year, which were narrowed to the best of eight categories. Winners in each of the following categories were presented plaques during COMPOSITES+POLYCON:

Compression Molding
Development of Low Moisture Absorbing SMC
by Hamid G. Kia, General Motors R&D Center

Design and Testing
Structural Behavior of Hybrid Timber-Composite Beams
by Kay-Uwe Schober & Karl Rautenstrauch, Bauhaus-University of Weimar, Department of Timber and Masonry Engineering, Weimar, Germany

Fire Resistant Technology
Parallel Panel Experiments of FRP Composites
by Patricia A. Beaulieu, FM Global; Nicholas A. Dembsey and Haejun Park, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Charles Dore, Abate Fire Technology, LLC

Green Composites
Behavior of Natural-Fiber/Thermoplastic Sheet Piling
by Daniel Alvarez-Valencia, Habib J. Dagher, Roberto A. Lopez-Anido, William G. Davids, Douglas J. Gardner AEWC Composites Center, University of Maine

Infrastructure and Construction: General
Durable Fiber Reinforced Polymer Bar Splice Connections for Precast Concrete Structures
by Andrew J. Tibbetts, Michael G. Oliva, Lawrence C. Bank Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Infrastructure and Construction: Rehabilitation
Behavior of Full-Scale Concrete Columns Internally Reinforced with Glass FRP Bars under Pure Axial Load
by Antonio De Luca, Fabio Matta, Antonio Nanni Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, University of Miami

Materials: Reinforcements
The Fracture of Nanosilica and Rubber Toughened Epoxy Fibre Composites
by A.J. Kinloch, K. Masania and A.C. Taylor, Imperial College London, UK S. Sprenger,Nanoresins AG, Geesthacht, Germany

Materials: Resins
CRP Tougheners for Use in Composite Systems
by Michael Wells, Scott Schmidt, Robert Barsotti, Arkema Inc.; James Vaughan and Ellen Lackey, University of Mississippi

The Technical Papers Awards are presented each year at COMPOSITES & POLYCON, ACMA’s  annual conference and trade show. All ACMA technical papers are maintained in an electronic library (www.compositesresearch.org) as part of the overall mission of the association to develop and enhance shared opportunities and address common challenges.

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With more than 850 member companies, The American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) is the world’s largest trade group representing the composites industry. ACMA publishes a monthly magazine, Composites Manufacturing, offers a universal, comprehensive training program for fabricators - Certified Composites Technician - and provides strong, proactive leadership in technical, government and regulatory affairs. In addition, ACMA hosts the largest tradeshow in North America with supplier and fabricator representatives from all market segments. For membership information, call 703-525-0511 or email:Info@acmanet.org. Visit ACMA's website at www.acmanet.org.