Laminate Specification and 

Characterization 

Composite Bridge Decking 

Publication No. FHWA-HIF-12-020

January 2012
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Technical Report Documentation Page

1. Report No.

FHWA-HIF-12-020

2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No.

4. Title and Subtitle

Laminate Specification and Characterization: Composite 

Bridge Decking 

5. Report Date 

January 2012

6. Performing Organization Code

7. Author(s) 

S.R. Ayers

8. Performing Organization Report No.

9. Performing Organization Name and Address

BridgeComposites, LLC

121 Upper Bennett St. 

Hornell, NY 14843-1451

10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)

11. Contract or Grant No.

12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address

Federal Highway Administration

Highways for LIFE Program – HIHL-1 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE

Washington, D.C. 20590

13. Type of Report and Period Covered

14. Sponsoring Agency Code

15. Supplementary Notes

16. Abstract

This report discusses work done on the specification and characterization of fiber-reinforced polymer laminate 

materials used for the trapezoidal profile used in creating a replacement deck unit.

17. Key Words

Fiber-reinforced polymer, FRP, laminate, bridge 

decking

18. Distribution Statement

No restrictions. This document is available to the public 

through the National Technical Information Service, 

Springfield, VA 22161.

19. Security Classification (of this report)

Unclassified

20. Security Classification (of this page)

Unclassified

21. No. of Pages

46

22. Price

Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized
ii

 
iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

OVERVIEW .................................................................................................................................. 1

BACKGROUND RESEARCH .................................................................................................... 3

Resin Selection............................................................................................................................ 3

Reinforcement Selection ............................................................................................................. 7

Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 10

TESTING PROCEDURE FOR LAMINATES ........................................................................ 11

Specified Test Methods............................................................................................................. 11

Standard Test Method for Indentation Hardness of Rigid Plastics by Means of a Barcol 

Impressor................................................................................................................................... 12

LAMINATE TESTING .............................................................................................................. 13

Ice Shield Laminate Configuration ........................................................................................... 13

Results of Testing for Ice Shield Laminate ............................................................................... 15

ALTERNATIVE LAMINATE LAYUP PROPOSAL ............................................................. 17

Compmillenia Test Panel Results ............................................................................................. 20

ADDITIONAL LAMINATE CHARACTERIZATION WORK CURRENTLY IN 

PROGRESS ................................................................................................................................. 23

Pultruded Profile Laminate ....................................................................................................... 23

Additional Test Laminates ........................................................................................................ 28

SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................. 29

REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................ 33

APPENDIX .................................................................................................................................. 35
iv

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Photo. Ice shield constructed by XC Associates. .......................................................... 13

Figure 2. Diagram. Geometry of ice shield profile with single cavity (dimensions in inches). ... 13

Figure 3. Photo. Plastic mold used to form the inner tube of the ice shield. ................................ 14

Figure 4. Diagram. Construction of deck profile from two trapezoidal tubes. ............................. 14

Figure 5. Diagram. Action of upper trapezoid surface under local wheel loading. ...................... 18

Figure 6. Diagram. Pultruded combi tube. .................................................................................... 23

Figure 7. Diagram. Laminate construction for pultruded combi tube. ......................................... 24

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. ASTM standard tests specified for sample laminates. .................................................... 11

Table 2. Ply sequence for ice shield laminates. ............................................................................ 15

Table 3. Predicted properties for ice shield trapezoid laminate. ................................................... 15

Table 4. Comparison of predicted values versus test values for ice shield sample laminate. ...... 16

Table 5. Total areal weight in each primary direction – ice shield laminate. ............................... 18

Table 6. Vectorply E-glass fabrics stocked by Compmillenia. ..................................................... 19

Table 7. Ply stacking sequence – Compmillenia laminate. .......................................................... 19

Table 8. Comparison of ice shield and Compmillenia layups. ..................................................... 20

Table 9. Tested properties of Compmillenia laminates. ............................................................... 21

Table 10. Predicted properties of pultruded tube versus tested ice shield laminate. .................... 24

Table 11. Ply details for horizontal walls of pultruded tube. ........................................................ 25

Table 12. Ply details for vertical walls of pultruded tube. ............................................................ 26

Table 13. Areal reinforcement weights (oz/yd2) of potential tube laminates. .............................. 26

Table 14. E-glass reinforcements for test laminates fabricated at LeTourneau University. ......... 27

Table 15. Resins for laminate testing and evaluation. .................................................................. 27

Table 16. Summary of test data as of November 1, 2011. ............................................................ 30
1 

OVERVIEW

A composite laminate is a structural plate consisting of multiple layers of fiber reinforcement 

encased in cured resin. The number of layers, the type of fiber (carbon, glass, or other), the fabric 

configuration (e.g., woven, stitched mat, uni-directional), the type of resin, and other factors can 

be varied to design a structural element that is suitable for a particular need. Raw materials 

(fiber, resin, and usually some filler) in themselves are not useful as a structural member, but 

when combined together, the product takes on new properties that make them desirable for use in 

structures. Laminates, or hardened sheets of composite material, usually are cut up into coupons 

for mechanical testing to validate the predicted properties. 

There are numerous resins on the market, but only the most durable are suitable for use as part of 

a bridge deck system. For this study, the project team performed a literature search to narrow the 

number of resins under consideration. They also requested composite test panels (also called 

“witness panels”) from several composite fabricators, then tested the panels that were received so 

that a variety of specimens could be compared. The project team also made use of data obtained 

from a recent project involving a composite “ice shield.” In some cases, incomplete data were

obtained from suppliers, but it still made a contribution to the body of knowledge that was being 

built. Laboratory samples were prepared to make up for samples that were not readily available 

from other sources. 

Various manufacturing processes are being considered: hand, vacuum infusion, and pultrusion. 

This helps to widen the number of potential fabricators for this type of deck system, and it is 

hoped this will in turn promote broader acceptance and commercial adoption of the system. 

Various resins and fiber architectures are being evaluated. 

After weighing all viable options, and in consultation with the project team’s manufacturing 

partners, a fire-resistant vinyl ester resin (Derakane 510C from Ashland) was selected for use in 

the combination tube that was developed and will be pultruded. Glass reinforcement was 

selected, and a layup sequence was adopted based on theoretical predictions. Testing to validate 

these decisions is ongoing. 

This report outlines characterization work and testing done to date. The development of laminate 

configurations is discussed, and physical test data are presented. 
2 
3 

BACKGROUND RESEARCH

RESIN SELECTION

While the reinforcement fiber is largely responsible for determining key structural properties, 

such as tensile strength and stiffness in the fiber direction, the successful performance of a 

composite relies greatly on both constituent phases. High-level composite performance can be 

achieved only through correct selection of both the fiber reinforcements and the polymer matrix 

(resin) that binds them into a cohesive structural unit. 

The primary purpose of the reinforcement in a polymer composite system is to improve the 

strength and stiffness of the system. Fiber reinforcements possess strength and stiffness 

properties two or three orders of magnitude above that of the neat polymer resin. However, a 

fiber reinforcement is essentially a cable-type element, in that it possesses excellent structural 

characteristics under tensile loading but little or no compressive or shear capacity when acting in 

isolation.

Therefore, the purpose of the resin is to bind the reinforcement fibers into a single cohesive 

structural system. In doing so, the resin must hold the reinforcement in place and act as a path for 

load transfer between the fibers. Through a combination of adhesive and cohesive characteristics, 

the resin enables the development of a single material system. The new system provides not only 

tensile capacity but also compressive and shear capacity.

The polymer matrix also serves to protect the reinforcement fiber from adverse environments. 

Selection of the appropriate matrix material for environmental durability is critical in ensuring 

the longer term viability of a composite system, particularly in harsh service environments such 

as off-shore and shoreline applications, chemical plants, and cold climates where products such 

as de-icing salts are used.

The polymer matrix also provides all the inter-laminar shear strength of the composite, as well as

resistance to crack propagation and damage. It can also be used to contribute properties such as 

ductility, toughness, or electrical insulation. The resin also affects the temperature performance 

of the material, typically determining properties such as the maximum service temperature.

Polymers can be classified into two primary groups: thermoplastics and thermosets. In terms of 

fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) systems for infrastructure applications, thermosetting polymers

are by far the most common type utilized. Unlike thermoplastics, which need to be heated to 

relatively high temperatures, many of the thermosets used for composite matrices can be 

formulated for processing at ambient temperature. 

In addition, most thermosets can be processed without the use of high pressure, which simplifies 

production and opens the door to a wide range of fabrication techniques. The low-viscosity 

nature of the resins also provides significantly easier impregnation and wetout of fiber

reinforcements. Impregnation can be undertaken prior to the curing reaction, and upon curing, 

the continuous thermoset network totally encompasses the fibers. The formation of cross-links in 

a thermoset network typically results in a stiffer and stronger matrix than that of a thermoplastic.
4 

However, thermosets generally tend to have lower elongations and toughness thermoplastics. 

Thermosets also display good resistance to a wide array of chemical environments, including 

acids, bases, and solvents. 

Common examples of thermosetting polymer resins used for civil engineering applications 

include polyesters and vinylesters, epoxies, phenolics, and polyurethanes. The first three types 

are considered to be the materials of primary interest, in terms of their current viability for civil 

engineering structures. The other two represent a possible future option for civil engineering 

composites; however, current technology for these materials presents a number of difficulties 

that limit their viability at present. 

Epoxy Resin

Epoxy resins are widely regarded as the high-performance family of composite resins and have 

grown to dominate aerospace composites and other high-performance application areas, such as 

motor racing and racing yachts. The higher performance of epoxy resins comes at an increased 

cost, but these materials are not limited to high-performance applications. A diverse array of 

epoxy systems is available in today’s composite market, with performance ranging from highend 350° F curing aerospace systems to general-purpose ambient cure systems with properties 

similar to vinyl esters. 

The chemistry of epoxies provides a wide scope for alteration of processing parameters, with 

systems available for use with every major composite production method. Curing time and 

temperature, as well as parameters such as resin viscosity, can be varied through correct 

formulation of the resin system. 

While epoxies have not been widely used in FRP deck systems to date, they are of major interest 

in civil engineering applications, due primarily to their structural performance and durability. 

These material offer exceptional adhesion characteristics between matrix and fiber, and hence 

enable the generation of excellent structural properties in fiber-reinforced laminates. In terms of 

FRP infrastructure applications, epoxies have found their widest utilization in carbon fiber 

strengthening systems, where the additional cost of epoxy can be justified to make full use of the 

properties of the carbon. 

For this project, it was considered desirable to include at least one epoxy in evaluations due to 

their potential performance advantages. Due to the diverse array of epoxy resins and hardeners 

available and their wide range of end properties, it was decided that the best approach was to 

consult with an established epoxy resin producer and seek a recommendation for one or two 

specific epoxy products. As one of the largest epoxy producers, Huntsman Advanced Materials 

was approached regarding potentially suitable epoxy resins for the proposed bridge deck design. 

Huntsman identified a laminating epoxy system —Araldite LY3505 / Aradur XB3403— as a 

viable system offering a good balance between cost and performance. The system can be 

laminated at ambient temperature, and good properties can be developed with a moderate 

temperature post-cure. The mix viscosity is low enough for easy hand lamination and potential 

vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) fabrication. 
5 

Vinyl Ester Resins

Whereas epoxy resins typically are regarded as covering the high end of the polymer matrix 

performance spectrum and polyester as covering the lower end, vinyl ester resins very much hold 

the middle ground. Originally released into the market in the 1960s, these materials offer a 

number of the superior performance properties of epoxies in combination with the processing 

flexibility of polyesters. Vinyl ester resins have been found to offer exceptional chemical 

resistance characteristics and have been the matrix material of choice in harsh chemical 

environments for over 30 years. Many such applications are detailed in the literature. (See 

references 1 through 4.) Vinyl esters present several attractive characteristics from a civil 

engineering perspective, including a lower cost structure than epoxies. They also display several 

negative characteristics that must be understood and accommodated for successful use. 

Standard vinyl esters can be modified to provide improved performance in areas such as 

toughness and impact performance. Rubber toughening is a common technique used with vinyl 

esters. A range of toughened products are available in the marketplace, including Dow’s 

Derakane 8084, Interplastic’s CoRezyn VE8550, and Reichhold’s DION 9500. Derakane 8084 

has been used in numerous infrastructure projects, including the current bridge deck design and 

the ice shield project undertaken by Bridge Composites prior to this current bridge project. Its 

improved toughness and impact resistance result in reduced matrix cracking, which may in turn 

enhance durability characteristics. Given the prior work with Derakane 8084 and the current 

deck design, this resin will be used extensively in testing for this current project.

There also are several versions of vinyl ester with improved fire resistance (commonly achieved 

through the incorporation of halogen material such fluorine, chlorine, or bromine). Given 

continued concerns by asset owners regarding the fire characteristics of FRP structures, it would 

seem reasonable to investigate the inclusion of this type of resin in this project’s evaluation 

program. The brominated vinyl ester resins Derakane 510C, CoRezyn VE8441, and DION 

FR9300 have been recommended by manufacturers associated with this project. All three will be 

included in testing work to varying extents. 

Polyester Resins

Unsaturated polyesters are the workhorse resins of the composite industry and are consumed in 

larger volume than any other resin. Traditionally, use of these materials was restricted to generalpurpose applications without major structural demands. However, ongoing development over the 

past decade or so has seen an increasing usage of these materials in higher performance 

applications with significant structural loads. Offering a combination of low cost and sound 

structural performance, polyester resins are now widely utilized in almost all areas of composite 

application. 

One of the major concerns in respect to polyester resins in civil engineering is their ability to 

maintain performance with long-term exposure to a typical civil engineering service 

environment. Of particular concern is their response to moisture. There are a high number of 

ester linkages that occur along the polyester molecule, and these segments are susceptible to 

attack both from water and from a range of chemicals, particularly alkaline media.

(5) Cross-link 
6 

density can significantly affect the susceptibility of the resin to attack. Heavily cross-linked 

systems form a tight three-dimensional network that physically resists penetration and attack.

(6)

However, this type of resistance generally comes at the sacrifice of resin flexibility and 

toughness. 

Most laminating grade polyesters display low strain-to-failure levels. While it is possible to 

formulate extremely flexible polyester resins, this normally is achieved with a significant 

sacrifice in stiffness and temperature performance. The low strain-to-failure levels of typical 

laminating polyesters have been found to cause microcracking and crazing of the resin prior to 

failure, which appears to reduce the ultimate capacity of the laminate. Premature cracking of the 

resin also creates major concerns over long-term performance of polyester laminates. It is 

thought that these crack will create a path for moisture migration to the resin/fiber interface and 

that this will result in a loss of structural capacity through breakdown of the resin/fiber bond over 

time.

(7)

Resistance to moisture attack is a significant concern with polyester resin systems in exterior 

civil engineering applications. Care must be taken to ensure that resin degradation from moisture 

attack does not reduce structural capacity to unsafe levels over time. While it is possible to 

formulate very high-performance polyester resins, these materials can cost as much as, or more 

than, competing vinyl ester systems. In such instances, it is thought that the overall performance 

characteristics of vinyl ester systems probably results in these materials being chosen over 

polyester. 

Polyester resins also have been found to exhibit high volumetric shrinkage during cure. This 

shrinkage is an intrinsic part of the cure reaction and cannot be fully eliminated. Shrinkage has 

been seen to result in part distortion and residual stressing of components if not properly 

accommodated.

Overall, polyester systems cannot be discounted from use in civil engineering structures. Indeed, 

their low cost makes them a desirable option to many clients. However, their low toughness, low 

strain characteristics, and increased susceptibility to environmental attack may result in the 

preclusion of polyesters from primary structural applications such as the current bridge deck. 

However, in many secondary structural applications using glass reinforcements, they may 

represent an economical and competitive option. Polyester resin will not be included in testing 

for the current study. 
7 

REINFORCEMENT SELECTION

The reinforcement fibers are the primary load-carrying component of the composite; thus, the 

selection of an appropriate type and form of reinforcement is critical in obtaining a material with 

the desired engineering properties. With the diverse array of reinforcement fibers and fabrics 

available today, and the current limited understanding of these materials within civil engineering 

circles, the selection of an optimal reinforcement is a challenging task.

From a civil engineering perspective, reinforcements for composite laminates can be categorized 

into four basic groups: 

• Glass fibers. 

• Carbon fibers. 

• Aramid fibers. 

• Other fibers. 

 “Other fibers” include products such as high-density polyethylene, polybenzoxazole (PBO), 

boron, polyester, and nylon. While these materials are available commercially and may be 

suitable in a number of application fields, they are not regarded as viable options for civil 

engineering structures on the basis of either cost or performance. These types of materials will 

not be addressed further in this work. Glass, carbon, and aramid fibers are discussed in more 

detail in the following sections.

Glass Fibers

Glass fiber reinforcements are the most common synthetic reinforcing fiber available in today’s 

composite industry. The development of high-quality glass fibers on a commercial scale in the 

early 1940s was one of the key enabling technologies in the current composites era. Since that 

time, glass fibers have been used in every segment of the composites industry. The success of 

glass fibers has been attributed to a number of factors, including cost, availability, handling and 

processing ability, useful properties and characteristics, and a history of past good experience in 

service.

(8) Glass reinforcement costs less per pound than any other reinforcement type. Moreover, 

glass was the first type of reinforcement available. By the advent of carbon fibers on the market 

some 20 years later, glass fibers had already developed a successful history of application and 

processing. For comparison purposes, a reinforcement supplier contacted for this study provided 

the following costs for one yard of fabric of similar weights: carbon $40, aramid $44, and glass 

$10. 

It is a common perception that glass fiber in composite materials is a low-tech approach that is 

not appropriate for civil engineering structures. However, as noted above, there are a number of 

advantages to using glass reinforcements which make them worthy of consideration. 

One advantage with glass fibers is that the composition of the different fiber types is essentially 

standardized around the world. This means that a given type of glass fiber sourced from a 

particular country is basically the same as another originating from a different part of the world. 
8 

The most common fiber type is E-glass. Originally developed for electrical applications due to 

its high electrical resistance, E-glass fiber is now the workhorse fiber of the composites industry. 

E-glass fiber provides high tensile strength, good heat resistance, thermal stability, chemical 

resistance, moisture resistance, and fire resistance.

One key issue that has a major bearing on the structural properties of a fiber-reinforced laminate 

is the adhesion of the fiber and matrix. For a composite to perform, the material must function as 

a single cohesive unit rather than as individual constituents. It is therefore important to ensure a 

successful bond between fiber and matrix. Juska and Pucket noted a number of reports in the 

literature which indicate that compression strength, flexural strength, in-plane shear strength, 

transverse tensile strength, and mode I fracture toughness are all affected by the quality of the 

fiber matrix bond.(9) As an inorganic material, glass is essentially incompatible with organic resin 

matrix materials and thus does not form good bonds. To alleviate this problem, a chemical 

intermediary known as a coupling agent is applied to the glass to assist in bonding. All glass 

fiber designed for use as reinforcement is treated with a coupling agent. These coupling agents 

are specific to a certain resin chemistry. It is essential to ensure that the selected resin and glass 

reinforcement for a project are compatible. It is worth noting, too, that a number of 

manufacturers utilize a combination of coupling agents to create a reinforcement that is 

compatible with more than one resin, which provides manufacturing and cost benefits. The key 

issue, though, is still to identify the type of resin being used and to ensure its compatibility with 

the reinforcement.

Carbon Fibers 

Carbon fibers offer an exceptional combination of high strength and stiffness, and low weight. 

Combined with indications of excellent long-term performance, these factors have made carbon 

fibers a material of significant interest in civil engineering applications. 

The performance of a carbon fiber is determined by the precursor fiber used to produce the 

carbon. The performance properties also depend on the process parameters used in the 

conversion of the fiber from precursor material to carbon. Unlike glass fibers, at this time there is 

no system of standardized composition across the carbon fiber industry, with individual 

companies each utilizing different precursor compositions and producing different carbon fiber

reinforcements. 

The successful adhesion between a carbon fiber and the polymer matrix material is critical in 

obtaining high-performance laminates. However, in their “as manufactured” state, carbon fibers

do not bond well to polymer resins.(10) A surface treatment is thus required to improve 

fiber/matrix adhesion. These surface treatments aim to boost surface reactivity and promote 

wetting of the fiber. Most carbon fibers sold as reinforcements are supplied with some type of 

surface treatment, with the most common type of process being a controlled oxidation. 

From a civil engineering perspective, the primary advantage of carbon fiber reinforcements is 

their stiffness characteristics. The modulus of elasticity of general-purpose, high-strength carbon 

fibers such as T300 and AS4C is around 33 MSI. In a typical hand-fabricated laminate with 

unidirectional fibers, this translates to an elastic modulus for the laminate of around 11 MSI. 
9 

While a laminate modulus of 11 MSI is still significantly lower than the modulus of steel, it is a 

major improvement over other reinforcement options. The stiffness of standard E-glass fibers is 

about 11 MSI. This is less than a third of the modulus of AS4C carbon and typically translates to 

a unidirectional laminate modulus of only around 3.6 MSI. 

Another advantage of carbon fibers is their low density, which enables the development of high 

strength and stiffness components at a fraction of the weight of conventional materials. Carbon 

fiber laminates possess some of the highest strength-to-weight and stiffness-to-weight ratios of 

any material. In civil engineering structures, this weight advantage does not provide the 

significant benefit that it does in fields such as aerospace development. Given the current cost of 

the reinforcement, it is anticipated that these materials would represent only a very small portion 

of the overall structure volume; hence, their influence on the total structure weight would be 

minor, unless a structural panel were made predominately of carbon, which may be the case in 

some unique applications. 

Carbon fiber reinforcements are attractive for their performance under long-term static and cyclic 

loading. Carbon fiber laminates exhibit excellent creep performance for fiber dominated loading 

situations, and they are less susceptible to stress rupture, with little change in stress retention 

shown in testing over 1,000 hours.(11) Carbon fibers provide excellent fatigue performance. 

Peebles et al. noted that after 107 cycles, carbon/epoxy laminates retained 80 percent of 

durability, while glass fiber laminates retained only 30 percent and aluminum retained 55 

percent.

(12) The good long-term performance of carbon fiber composites provides some 

significant benefits in terms of initial design, with reduced safety factors used for these materials. 

In discussing material safety factors for LRFD methods, Karbhari and Seible suggested a longterm capacity reduction factor of 0.7 to 0.9 for carbon fiber laminates, compared with 0.3 to 0.5 

for E-glass laminates.(13) This improved capacity factor can yield significant benefits for carbon 

fibers in design calculations and associated economics.

The most significant drawback of carbon fiber is cost. Though the actual cost per pound varies 

according to the type of weave, fiber orientation, and other factors, as a general rule carbon costs 

four times as much as glass. For the current project, the cost of carbon fiber reinforcement is too 

high to allow for competitive design solutions. Carbon fibers therefore will not be included in 

testing for this project. 

Aramid Fibers 

Aramid fibers are a specialist fiber for impact type situations and are not as widely used as glass 

or carbon reinforcements. While the basic mechanical properties offered by aramid fibers are 

similar to those achieved by other reinforcement types, aramids have several unique 

characteristics, including toughness and impact performance, low flammability, and resistance to 

solvents and bases. In regular applications, aramids possess several drawbacks which limit their 

use. These include poor off-axis properties, susceptibility to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and 

excessive moisture absorption. Aramids will not be included in testing for this project. 
10 

CONCLUSION

Based on the background research and prior experience of the research team, the following 

materials were selected for inclusion in the testing program for this project:

Reinforcement: 

• E-glass (continuous directional fiber fabrics and short random fiber mat). 

Resin: 

• Epoxy (room temperature curing, laminating epoxy). 

• Standard vinyl ester. 

• Toughened vinyl ester. 

• Fire resistant vinyl ester. 

• Phenolic. 

• Urethane hybrid. 
TESTING PROCEDURE FOR LAMINATES

To develop a broad-based specification for the bridge deck system, the researchers approached 

several commercial manufacturers about supplying sample panels using the identified materials. 

Additional panels were planned for laboratory fabrication to further knowledge on potentially 

suitable options and to develop a reasonable database of material data. Each company prepared a 

test panel with minimum dimensions of 48 inches by 36 inches with the nominal 0 degree 

direction being parallel to the 48-inch side. Cutting of the panels into two panels 24 inches by 36 

inches was permitted to facilitate shipping.

SPECIFIED TEST METHODS

Table 1 outlines the standard test methods specified for laminate test panels in this project. The 

test program was developed to obtain mechanical properties required for design and analysis as 

well as base level properties for quality control testing during the subsequent manufacturing 

phase of the project. A test for degradation due to ultraviolet radiation is not included because all 

surfaces are to be protected in the proposed deck system. The top will have a polymer concrete 

wearing surface, and other exposed surfaces will be protected with paint. 

Table 1. ASTM standard tests specified for sample laminates. 

11 

ASTM Test No. Title Properties Obtained Symbol

D3039/

3039M-08 

Standard Test Method for Tensile

Properties of Polymer Matrix 

Composites 

Ultimate tensile strength 

(0°) σ11T 

Ultimate tensile strain 

(0°) ε11T

Modulus of elasticity 

(chord) (0°) E11T

Ultimate tensile strength 

(90°) σ22T 

Ultimate tensile strain

(90°) ε22T

Modulus of elasticity 

(chord) (90°) E22T

D6641/

D6641M-09 

Standard Test Method for 

Compressive Properties of Polymer 

Matrix Composite Materials Using 

a Combined Loading Compression 

(CLC) Test Fixture

Ultimate compression 

strength (0°) σ11C 

Ultimate compression 

strain (0°) ε11C

Modulus of elasticity 

(chord) (0°) E11C

Ultimate compression 

strength (90°) σ22C 

Ultimate compression 

strain (90°) ε22C

Modulus of elasticity 

(chord) (90°) E22C
12 

Table1. ASTM standard tests specified for sample laminates, continued. 

D7078/

D7078M-05 

Standard Test Method for Shear

Properties of Composite Materials by VNotched Rail Shear Method

Ultimate shear strength 

(0°/90°) ν12 

Ultimate shear strain 

(0°/90°) γ12

Shear modulus (chord)

(0°/90°) G12

Ultimate shear strength 

(90°/0°) ν21 

Ultimate shear strain 

(90°/0°) γ21

Shear modulus (chord) 

(90°/0°) G21

D7264/

D7264M-07 

Standard Test Method for Flexural

Properties of Polymer Matrix Composite 

Materials

Ultimate flexural 

strength (0°) σ11F

Ultimate flexural strain 

(0°) ε11F

Flexure Modulus (chord) 

(0°) E11F

Ultimate flexural 

strength (90°) σ22F

Ultimate flexural strain 

(90°) ε22F

Flexure modulus (chord) 

(90°) E22F

D3171-09 Standard Test Method for Constituent 

Content of Composite Materials 

Test Method I, Procedure G: Matrix 

Burnoff in a Muffle Furnace 

Fiber fraction - mass mf

Fiber fraction - volume vf

D2344/

D2344M-00 

Standard Test Method for Short-Beam 

Shear Strength of Polymer Matrix 

Composite Materials and Their Laminates

Short beam shear 

strength

D635-03 Standard Test Method for Rate of Burning

and/or Extent and Time of Burning of 

Plastics in a Horizontal Position 

Rate of burning

Extent of burning

D2583-07 Standard Test Method for Indentation 

Hardness of Rigid Plastics by Means of a 

Barcol Impressor

Barcol hardness

D792-08 Test Methods for Density and Specific 

Gravity (Relative Density) of Plastics by 

Displacement

Specific gravity SG
LAMINATE TESTING

ICE SHIELD LAMINATE CONFIGURATION

In July 2010, XC Associates fabricated a protective ice shield for a bridge in Erie County, NY, 

using the same FRP profile under consideration for this current project (see Figure 1). 

13 

Figure 1. Photo. Ice shield constructed by XC Associates. 

Figure 2. Diagram. Geometry of ice shield profile 

with single cavity (dimensions in inches). 

The trapezoidal shape was slightly different than that developed for the current project, in that it 

only allows for a single grout cavity (see Figure 2). The newly developed shape allows for a 

cavity at the top and bottom, but since only the wide void is to be filled with grout for the 

Allegany County proof-of-concept bridge being done as part of this project, the section shown 

here is very similar to the proposed section. The section shown here was not pultruded, however. 

The inner trapezoidal tube was made using a custom mold (Figure 3) to shape the outside 

dimensions, then a bag was inflated on the inside to obtain the correct wall thickness. Once the 

inner tube was made, the grout was placed on top and the outer tube was made with a vacuum 

process that employed the smaller tube as tooling.
14 

Figure 3. Photo. Plastic mold used to form the inner tube of the ice shield.

The structure was fabricated from two trapezoids each approximately 0.1 inches thick. The 

smaller trapezoid was designed to be adhesively bonded inside the larger trapezoid (see Figure 

4). A series of these tubes would then be adhesively bonded together to form a deck unit. To 

ensure the structural integrity of the deck unit, the assembly would be completely wrapped by an 

outer laminate.

Figure 4. Diagram. Construction of deck profile from two 

trapezoidal tubes. 

The reinforcement construction of both of these trapezoids was identical and was specified as 

[E-QX2600 / E-LT5500 / E-QX2600]. E-QX2600 is a 25.18-oz/yd2

 quadraxial E-glass fabric, 

and E-LT5500 is a 54.33-oz/yd2 biaxial E-glass fabric. Both fabrics are manufactured by 

Vectorply Corporation. The resin used was Derakane 8084. They were made using a VARTM 

process.

A breakdown of the individual ply directions and weight in this laminate is as shown in Table 2. 
15 

Table 2. Ply sequence for ice shield laminates. 

Individual Ply 

Direction

Weight 

(oz/yd2)

0° 6.40

+45° 6.27

90° 6.24

-45° 6.27

0° 50.97

90° 3.36

0° 6.40

+45° 6.27

90° 6.24

-45° 6.27

This laminate layup was developed in consultation with Vectorply, who provided a table of 

predicted properties for the layup. The predicted properties are shown in Table 3. 

Table 3. Predicted properties for ice shield trapezoid laminate. 

Property Symbol Predicted Value

Fiber Volume Fraction vf 52.84 %

Elastic Modulus – 0° E1 4.84 MSI

Elastic Modulus – 90° E2 2.77 MSI

In-Plane Shear Modulus G12 0.71 MSI

Ultimate Tensile Strength – 0° σ1T 88.6 KSI

Ultimate Tensile Strength – 90° σ2T 52.5 KSI

Ultimate Compression Strength – 0° σ1C 60.0 KSI

Ultimate Compression Strength – 90° σ2C 35.8 KSI

Ultimate Shear Strength – In Plane υ12 

In developing laminate concepts for the current moveable bridge project, the ice shield laminate 

provided a natural starting point. Preliminary finite element analysis of the deck design indicated 

that if obtained properties were in line with the predictions in Table 3, then a satisfactory 

outcome could be achieved for the moveable bridge deck. 

To assess whether the predicted properties were achievable in practice, XC Associates was 

contracted to produce a representative laminate panel that could be mechanically tested and 

compared to the predicted properties. 

RESULTS OF TESTING FOR ICE SHIELD LAMINATE 

Table 4 shows a comparison of the predicted property values and the actual values obtained from 

testing of the XC Associates sample panel. The 0° properties in tension are relatively consistent 

with predicted values; however, there are some variations in the corresponding compression 

13.5 KSI
16 

values. For the 90° properties, there are significant differences between predicted and tested 

values. 

The reason for the differences between predicted and measured properties is not clear. To 

attempt to reconcile the two data sets, the test data were reexamined to assess whether there were 

any obvious issues that could explain the discrepancies. No obvious problems could be seen with 

the data. Statistical screening using a maximum normed residual (MNR) method was performed 

to identify outlier specimens in each data set. Again, no outliers were identified in the data.

There is a slight variation of about 5 percent in the thickness of the test panel versus the 

predicted thickness. This difference does not explain the other property variations. 

Table 4. Comparison of predicted values versus test values for ice shield sample laminate. 

Property Symbol Predicted 

Value Tested Value

Fiber Fraction mf 69.82 %

vf 52.84 % 48.1 %

Elastic Modulus – 0° E1 4.84 MSI (T) 4.37 MSI

(C) 2.89 MSI

Elastic Modulus – 90° E2 2.77 MSI (T) 1.99 MSI

(C) 2.18 MSI

Ultimate Tensile Strength – 0° σ1T 88.6 KSI 84.53 KSI

Ultimate Tensile Strength – 90° σ2T 52.5 KSI 29.09 KSI

Ultimate Compression Strength – 0° σ1C 60.0 KSI 60.09 KSI

Ultimate Compression Strength – 90° σ2C 35.8 KSI 30.09 KSI

Laminate Thickness 0.106 in 0.112 in

Data on the behavior of a unidirectional E-glass/Derakane 8084 lamina under tension were

available from a previous project. Using these data to estimate the behavior of the current ice

shield laminate configuration, it was found that the predicted tensile modulus values were 

consistent with the actual data. The reason for the significantly lower E2 value found in testing is 

not readily apparent. The strength values at 0° are in reasonable agreement, but at 90° the 

estimated value from the lamina data indicated a value for σ2T of around 30 to 33 KSI. This is 

consistent with the tested value of 29.1 KSI and would suggest that the predicted value of 52.5 

KSI was a significant overestimation. Corresponding lamina data in compression are not 

available at this time but will be obtained in future testing.

There are no apparent issues with the accuracy of the measured data, and as this represents the 

measured behavior of an actual panel, it should be taken as representative behavior. 
17 

ALTERNATIVE LAMINATE LAYUP PROPOSAL

In addition to XC Associates, this project proposed to evaluate alternative manufacturers for the 

trapezoidal tubes used in the deck. The research team approached Compmillenia, which 

expressed an interest in producing sample products; however, they did not carry the ice shield

reinforcement products in stock and requested that alternative layups be investigated using 

products they had on hand. 

The aim in proposing an alternative laminate ply sequence was to produce a laminate with a 

stiffness and load carrying capacity at least as great at the original ice shield laminate. An 

attempt was made to optimize the fiber architecture to help it perform better in the transverse 

direction so that the top of the tubes contributed to the flexural strength of the grout section. 

Given that the particular fabric used and the manufacturing processes significantly influence 

stress-based laminate properties, the approach taken in developing the new laminate 

configuration focused on achieving adequate reinforcement in principal directions. 

Two basic assumptions were made in establishing an alternative laminate: 

1. The resistance of the laminate to load is primarily a function of the amount of 

reinforcement aligned in the direction of load application. 

2. The strength and stiffness of a unidirectional lamina in a given load direction decrease 

rapidly as the load line moves off the primary fiber axis of the lamina; thus, off-axis 

layers in a multilayer laminate make a minimal contribution to the overall load carrying 

capacity or elongation resistance of that laminate.

The design of an alternative laminate stacking sequence for Compmillenia was based on 

providing an adequate amount of reinforcement in several key directions, namely: 

• The longitudinal axis of the tube – 0°. 

• Normal to the longitudinal axis of the tube – 90°. 

• +/-45° to the longitudinal axis in the plane of each face of the trapezoid – +/-45°. 

The fibers in the longitudinal axis are responsible for carrying axial tension and compression 

loads as the tubes span between the stringer beams.

The 90° fibers are largely responsible for transferring local wheel loadings into the side walls of 

the trapezoids. It is assumed that these laminates work in conjunction with the grout as a 

sandwich panel under bending, spanning between the tube side walls. This results in in-plane 

tension and compression forces in the 90° direction (see Figure 5). 
18 

Direction Areal Weight 

(oz/yd2)

Areal Weight 

(g/m2)

0° 63.8 2162

90° 15.8 538

+/-45° 25.1 852

Top laminate of the inner tube 

Nominal 90o Direction

Of Tube 

Top laminate of the outer tube 

Grout 

Direction of 

Bending 

Local Wheel Load 

Supporting Supporting 

Figure 5. Diagram. Action of upper trapezoid surface under local 

wheel loading. 

The +/-45° fibers are present primarily to transfer shear loads in the side walls of the tube. The 

shear loading results in tensile and compressive loads at 45° to the longitudinal tube axis in the 

plane of the side wall. Provision of sufficient fiber along the +/-45° direction is thus the primary 

consideration for the side walls. 

Based on these principles, the new laminate configuration was designed to provide equal or 

greater fiber in each of the principal directions compared to the ice shield laminate. The total 

reinforcement in each primary direction of the ice shield laminate is shown in Table 5. 

Table 5. Total areal weight in each primary direction – ice shield laminate. 

Side Wall Side Wall

Compmillenia nominated the Vectorply E-glass fabrics listed in Table 6 as being available from 

their regularly held stock.
19 

Table 6. Vectorply E-glass fabrics stocked by Compmillenia. 

Fabric ID Description

Ply Details

Dir. Weight 

(oz/yd2)

E-LM1810 0 warp unidirectional with mat - 27.06 oz/yd2 0° 17.92

90° 0.14

CSM 9.00

E-LT3200 0/90 biaxial – 31.36 oz/yd2 0° 17.92

90° 13.44

E-BX2400 +45/-45 double bias – 23.90 oz/yd2 +45° 11.95

-45° 11.95

Using these fabrics, the laminate proposed was [E-LT3200 / E-LM1810 / E-BX2400 / ELM1810 / E-LT3200]. The top and bottom layers of E-LT3200 are placed such that on the 

bottom surface the 90° layer is on the outer surface of the laminate and on the top the fabric is 

flipped such that the 90° layer is on the outer surface again. 

The laminate yields the ply configuration shown in Table 7. 

Table 7. Ply stacking sequence – Compmillenia laminate. 

Individual Ply 

Direction

Weight 

(oz/yd2)

90° 13.44

0° 17.92

0° 17.92

CSM 9.00

+45° 11.95

-45° 11.95

0° 17.92

CSM 9.00

0° 17.92

90° 13.44
20 

Table 8 shows a comparison of Compmillenia layup versus the original ice shield layup. 

Table 8. Comparison of ice shield and Compmillenia layups. 

 

Direction Ice Shield

(oz/yd2)

Compmillenia

(oz/yd2)

0° 63.8 71.7

90° 15.8 26.9

+/-45° 25.1 23.9

CSM 0 18.0

The resulting theoretical thickness of the ice shield layup is 0.106 

inches, and the theoretical thickness of the Compmillenia layup is 

0.15 inches.

The proposed Compmillenia panel provides an increase in both 0° and 90° reinforcements with a 

slight reduction in shear reinforcement. There is a 50 percent increase in laminate thickness; 

however, this was seen to be the most viable stacking sequence given the materials at hand.

Compmillenia provided two sample laminates with the alternative layup. The panels were 

produced using hand layup without vacuum consolidation. One was produced using a standard 

vinylester (CoRezyn VE8121), and the other was produced with an alternative fire retardant 

vinylester resin (CoRezyn VE8441). Both resins were manufactured by Interplastic Corporation. 

COMPMILLENIA TEST PANEL RESULTS

The results of testing on the test panels from Compmillenia are given in the appendix. A 

summary of data for the panel is presented in the Summary chapter. 

Table 9 shows a comparison of the test properties found with the Compmillenia test panels. 

When compared to the ice shield panel figures in Table 4, these figures appear low. However, it 

should be remembered that this laminate was not designed to be exactly the same as the ice 

shield laminate and that certain compromises were made to accommodate the materials 

available. 
21 

Table 9. Tested properties of Compmillenia laminates. 

Property Symbol CoRezyn 8121 

Vinyl Ester

CoRezyn 8441 

Vinyl Ester (fireresistant)

Fiber Fraction mf 53.5 % 52.2 %

vf 31.5 % 33.4 %

Elastic Modulus – 0° E1 (T) 2.48 MSI (T) 2.56 MSI

(C) 2.36 (C) 2.37 MSI

Elastic Modulus – 90° E2 (T) 1.86 MSI (T) 1.99 MSI

(C) 1.84 (C) 1.93 MSI

Ultimate Tensile Strength – 0° σ1T 49.94 KSI 47.33 KSI

Ultimate Tensile Strength – 90° σ2T 29.75 KSI 28.41 KSI

Ultimate Compression Strength – 0° σ1C 54.42 KSI 45.59 KSI

Ultimate Compression Strength – 90° σ2C 32.33 KSI 27.23 KSI

Laminate Thickness 0.218 in 0.229 in

The biggest contributor to the lower test properties is the low fiber fraction achieved in the test 

panel. The XC Associates ice shield panel had a fiber volume fraction of around 50 percent, 

while the Compmillenia panels only had fiber fractions of 31.5 percent and 33.4 percent,

respectively. It is thought that a significant contributor to this low fiber fraction is the mat layer 

on the E-LM1810 fabric. It is difficult to obtain low fiber fractions with a mat material as the 

structure of the mat tends to hold itself open and thus holds more resin. Significantly better stress 

properties may be achieved if an alternative unidirectional fabric was used which did not utilize a 

mat layer. An increase in fiber fraction from 31 to 50 percent would result in a thickness 

decrease of around 62 percent and a corresponding stress-based property increase of around 160 

percent. Considering the current tensile modulus values of E1 = 2.48MSI and E2 = 1.86MSI, the 

area decrease would result in new values of E1 = 4.00 MSI and E2 = 3.00 MSI. This is much 

more in line with the ice shield properties. 

However, even if the fiber fraction was increased to 50 percent, the resulting thickness of the 

laminate would still be around 0.15 inches. This is 50 percent greater than the original targeted 

laminate thickness of 0.1 inches. To achieve a 0.1-inch thickness it would be necessary to revise 

the laminate stacking sequence and reduce the amount of reinforcement present.
22 
23 

ADDITIONAL LAMINATE CHARACTERIZATION WORK CURRENTLY IN 

PROGRESS

PULTRUDED PROFILE LAMINATE

The research team is pursuing the production of a custom pultruded trapezoidal profile through 

Creative Pultrusions, Inc. The pultruded combination or “combi” tube will be a three-cavity 

trapezoid as shown in Figure 6. The current generation uses a fire-resistant vinyl ester resin 

(Derakane 510C from Ashland). The reinforcement is E-glass rovings, woven mat, and chapped 

strand mat from PPG and Owens-Corning. 

Figure 6. Diagram. Pultruded combi tube. 

Due to production requirements of the pultrusion process, the laminate construction currently 

specified for the profile is significantly different from that of the original ice shield laminate used 

as the basis for design. Figure 7 shows the final laminate construction to be manufactured for the 

profile. The original concept involved a constant 0.2-inch wall in all areas; however, it did not 

appear that adequate properties could be obtained with this concept. The current concept calls for 

0.2-inch horizontal walls with 0.24-inch walls for the inclined sides. 
24 

Figure 7. Diagram. Laminate construction for pultruded combi tube. 

Predicted properties for this profile construction, provided by Creative Pultrusions, are given in

Table 10.

Table 10. Predicted properties of pultruded tube versus tested ice shield laminate. 

Property Unit Horizontal 

Walls 

Vertical 

Walls 

Ice Shield 

Laminate 

(tested)

Thickness in 0.2 0.24 0.2

Fiber Volume Fraction % n/a n/a 48.1

Elastic Modulus – 0° (tension) MSI 3.39 3.18 4.37

Elastic Modulus – 90° (tension) MSI 2.33 2.39 1.99

In-Plane Shear Modulus MSI 0.74 0.75 n/a

Ultimate Tensile Strength – 0° KSI 63.6 55.6 84.5

Ultimate Tensile Strength – 90° KSI 20.6 22.3 29.1

Ultimate Compression Strength – 0° KSI 54.8 52.6 60.1

Ultimate Compression Strength – 90° KSI 22.3 23.6 30.1

Ultimate Shear Strength – In Plane KSI 8 8.6 n/a
25 

The individual ply details of the laminate constructions for the horizontal and vertical walls are 

given in Table 11 and Table 12. 

 

Table 11. Ply details for horizontal walls of pultruded tube. 

Material Angle

(°)

Areal Weight

(oz / yd2)

Thickness

(in)

1 1⁄2 oz CSM n/a 1.5 0.016

E-TTXM 2308 45 6.27 0.032

90 11.52

-45 6.27

CSM 8.10

Roving - 3.7 ends/in 0 38.3 0.038

E-TTXM 2308 45 6.27 0.032

90 11.52

-45 6.27

CSM 8.10

Roving - 3.7 ends/in 0 38.3 0.038

E-TTXM 2308 45 6.27 0.032

90 11.52

-45 6.27

CSM 8.10

1 1⁄2 oz CSM n/a 1.5 0.016

TOTALS 0 76.6 0.204

90 34.6

+45/-45 37.6

CSM 27.3

Note: CSM = chopped strand mat (short random fiber mat reinforcement)
26 

Table 12. Ply details for vertical walls of pultruded tube. 

Material Angle

(°)

Areal Weight

(oz / yd2)

Thickness

(in)

1 1⁄2 oz CSM n/a 1.5 0.017

E-TTXM 2308 45 6.27 0.032

90 11.52

-45 6.27

CSM 8.10

E-TTXM 2308 45 6.27 0.032

90 11.52

-45 6.27

CSM 8.10

Roving – 7.6 ends/in 0 78.6 0.078

E-TTXM 2308 45 6.27 0.032

90 11.52

-45 6.27

CSM 8.10

E-TTXM 2308 45 6.27 0.032

90 11.52

-45 6.27

CSM 8.10

1 1⁄2 oz CSM n/a 1.5 0.017

TOTALS 0 78.6 0.240

90 46.1

+45/-45 50.2

CSM 27.3

Table 13 shows a comparison of the total weights of the Creative Pultrusions laminate 

construction versus the XC Associates ice shield panel and the Compmillenia panels. The 

Creative Pultrusions laminate has significantly more shopped strand mat (CSM) material than 

either of the previous laminates, which will likely result in a lower fiber volume fraction. For the 

thickness, the proposed laminates also contain significantly less unidirectional reinforcement, 

which may reduce the effective longitudinal strength of the tube further. 

Table 13. Areal reinforcement weights (oz/yd2

) of potential tube laminates. 

Fiber Direction XC Associates

Ice Shield

Laminate*

Compmillenia 

Laminate

Creative 

Pultrusions 

Horizontal Wall

Creative 

Pultrusions 

Vertical Wall

0 127.6 71.7 76.6 78.6

90 31.6 26.9 34.6 46.1

+45/-45 50.2 23.9 37.6 50.2

CSM 0 18.0 27.3 27.3

Thickness 0.212 in 0.15 in 0.204 in 0.240 in

*Two layers of original ice shield laminate to create ~0.2-inch thickness
27 

To examine the behavior of this construction and to assess production options with different 

resins and processes, series of test panels will be fabricated using the materials listed in Table 14. 

Test laminates will utilize a layup sequence of:

[E-BX1200/E-M0010/E-LT1800/E-LA1312/E-LT1800/E-BX1200/E-M0010/E-LA1312/ELT1800/E-LA1312/E-LT1800/E-M0010/E-BX1200] 

Table 14. E-glass reinforcements for test laminates fabricated at LeTourneau University. 

Fabric ID Description

Ply Details Nominal 

Thickness

Dir. Weight 

(oz/yd2)

(in)

E-LA1312 0 warp unidirectional with A-glass veil -

13.42 oz/yd2 

0° 12.22 0.014 –

Veil 1.20 0.021

E-LT1800 0/90 biaxial – 17.92 oz/yd2 0° 8.96 0.018 –

90° 8.96 0.026

E-BX1200 +45/-45 double bias – 12.54 oz/yd2 +45° 6.27 0.013 –

-45° 6.27 0.018

E-M0010 Random strand mat – 9.00 oz/yd2 CSM 9.00 0.010 –

0.024

This configuration will provide directional reinforcement weights of: 

• 0° – 72.50 oz/yd2

• 90° – 35.84 oz/yd2

• +/-45° – 37.62 oz/yd2

• CSM – 30.60 oz/yd2

These reinforcement weights are relatively consistent with the horizontal wall reinforcements 

proposed by Creative Pultrusion. Some differences do exist, but the proposed test layup is as 

close as can be achieved with readily available materials. Due to the use of lighter weight fabrics, 

the laminates will have a larger number of layers, but this allows closer approximation of the 

pultrusion laminate in terms of both reinforcement weight and ply position. 

Test laminates will be produced using five different resins, as listed in Table 15. 

Table 15. Resins for laminate testing and evaluation. 

Product Name Manufacturer Type

Derakane 8084 Ashland Elastomer modified vinyl ester

Derakane 510C Ashland Fire resistant vinyl ester

DION FR9300 Reichhold Fire resistant vinyl ester

Cellobond FRP J2027L Momentive Laminating phenolic

Dion 9800 Reichhold Hybrid urethane

TBD* Huntsman Laminating epoxy

*currently under assessment by Huntsman
28 

ADDITIONAL TEST LAMINATES

Four additional unidirectional laminates will be fabricated; one with each of the fabrics listed in 

Table 14. These will provide base-level lamina design information for assessing alternative tube 

layups. These four laminates will be fabricated with Derakane 8084 vinyl ester resin. 
29 

SUMMARY 

Table 16 provides a summary of test data obtained in this project to November 1, 2011. 

Additional detail is provided in the appendix. Testing on the other laminates outlined in previous 

section is ongoing, and data will be provided upon completion. 
30 

Table 16. Summary of test data as of November 1, 2011. 
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33 

REFERENCES

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2. McConnell, V.P., “Vinyl Esters Get Radical in Composite Markets,” Reinforced Plastics, pp. 

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Plastics, pp. 20-26, July/Aug 2011. 

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Technology, 4th ed., New York, Wiley & Sons, 1996. 

7. Ayers, S.R., “Material Foundations for the Application of Fibre Composite Materials in Civil 

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2001. 

8. Reinhart, T.J., “Overview of Composite Materials,” in Handbook of Composites, S.T. Peters, 

ed., London, Chapman and Hall, 1998. 

9. Juska, T.D., and P.M. Puckett, “Matrix Resins and Fiber/Matrix Adhesion,” in Composites 

Engineering Handbook, P.K. Mallick, ed., New York, Marcel Dekker, 1997. 

10. Lafdi, K., and M.A. Wright, “Carbon Fibres,” in Handbook of Composites, S.T. Peters, ed., 

London, Chapman and Hall, 1998. 

11. Mall, S., “Laminated Polymer Composites,” in Composites Engineering Handbook, P.K. 

Mallick, ed., New York, Marcel Dekker, 1997. 

12. Peebles, L.H., Y.G. Yanovsky, A.G. Sirota, V.V. Bogdanov, and P.M. Levit, “Mechanical 

Properties of Carbon Fibers,” in Carbon Fibers, 3rd ed., J.-B. Donnet, ed., New York, 

Marcel Dekker, 1998. 

13. Karbhari, V.M., and F. Seible, “Design Considerations for the Use of Fibre Reinforced 

Polymeric Composites in the Rehabilitation of Concrete Structures,” in Proceedings of 

ACCSE 1, Brisbane, 1999. 
34 
35 

APPENDIX
36 
37 
38 
39 
40 
41 
42