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Fiberglass Pool Installation

AKeson — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 13:59:10 +0000

Fiberglass swimming pools have several advantages as compared to other types, such as concrete in-ground pools, vinyl-lined pools, and above-ground pools.

-They can be built off-site in a controlled environment.

-They are lightweight for transport and lifting into place.

-They have a durable and usually have a one-piece design.

-The material allows for design freedoms that are more difficult with other materials.

The many advantages of fiberglass swimming pools in residential use are numerous. They do have disadvantages as well, just like other materials. The outdoor environment can be very tough on any fiberglass structure. Proper cleaning and maintenance is very important to keep an appropriate appearance together.

Fiberglass pools can be easily delivered on-site with medium-duty shipping equipment and lifted in place with a crane. I found a great Youtube video demonstrating a lift over a large two-story house. The pool easily goes into place, ready for surrounding landscaping.

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Non-Destructive Testing with Ultrasound

AKeson — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 12:41:28 +0000

Composite materials can become damaged in many different ways. There can also be flaws in the original manufacturing process. Many times it is necessary to identify any damaged areas within the composites layers that cannot be detected with the eye.

Inspection of composites fiberglass and carbon fiber structures may be required for advanced critical applications of composites materials. Identifying any potential problems with the composites structure is extremely important.

Of course problems can be identified through destructive testing-drilling holes, making cuts, etc. It also may be necessary to do testing in a non-destructive manner, i.e. not cutting into the laminate that is being tested.

One method of accomplishing non-destructive testing of composites laminates is using ultrasound. This Youtube video demonstrates the use of this method.

As you can see, the damage is found in this carbon fiber laminate. This information is a flag that can be used to decide whether to make a repair or replace the structure.

Delamination within the fiberglass or carbon fiber part will result in a much weaker structure than the design intended. Other areas of the composites part will be further strained by weaknesses in other areas and may also fail.

This ultrasonic test can help to identify otherwise invisible problems with either the original manufacturing process or damage during the life cycle of the composite part.

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Chrome Plated Fiberglass

AKeson — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:54:55 +0000

Fiberglass Composite materials can be coated to show many different finished effects. I ran across a neat Youtube video demonstrating a spray on chrome process with a fiberglass grill shell.

It is pretty cool to see the change in appearance as the coating is applied. I am amazed at how wet the part is sprayed. Definitely not a traditional spray application method. The coating is just dripping off of the part. My guess is that the spraying with an air nozzle is working to help remove any runs and wrinkles in the surface finish.

This coating process will act like a painted surface more than a part that has been subjected to a hardened plating process. Surface adhesion will be very important to test the durability of the finished look.

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Underwater Pipe Repair

AKeson — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:04:21 +0000

An epoxy and fiberglass wrap can repair steel pipes while submerged underwater. Repairing small holes in pipes by wrapping them is sure to be much less expensive and disruptive than replacing bad sections of pipe. Divers must have access to the whole circumference of the pipe and the pipe must be free of its contents to prevent contamination and allow for the wrap to seal the leak.

As always, surface preparation is very important, and is demonstrated in the video with the grinder. The epoxy must form a good bond with the substrate material, not the rust and scale that is on the outside of the pipe.

Jeff Longmoore of TFT demonstrates how this repair is performed in a Youtube video, but does so in a dry environment rather than the actual underwater one. Very interesting.

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Infusion-Test Panel and Fuselage

AKeson — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:20:01 +0000

Ran across an interesting Youtube video demonstrating an epoxy resin infusion process on some test panels and fuselage. It is interesting how everybody has their own terminology and technique for resin infusion. There is definitely more than one way to get the job done.

They use an interesting layup, including lots of the Soric material. I have used this before, and it is a good material to infuse with. Made by a company called Lantor, it is a non-woven polyester material that acts as a core material. It appears that the folks in the video are using the SF grade Soric, which comes in several thicknesses.

An advantage of using Soric as a core is that it flows resin very well for infusion. It is easy to cut and handles well.

Disadvantages also abound. One of them is the possibility of print-thru on the surface of the laminate. Another is the negative effect on the structural properties of the laminate. This non-woven material does not have much crush resistance such as a balsa or foam material. A serious issue that I have found is the higher risk of delamination. Like any core, this material works by separating the two skin layers to create a sort of “I beam” effect. The problem is that this material is not inherently strong within itself. Though it does become saturated with resin during a proper infusion, it is not nearly as strong as glass or carbon fiber reinforcement.

As the video demonstrates, a proper resin infusion can look easy. With proper materials, practice, and knowledge it can be.

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Making Holes

AKeson — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:17:22 +0000

If you are working with fiberglass parts, you may need to attach other parts, pieces, and features mechanically with fasteners. Bolts and rivets are the most common mechanical fasteners used to accomplish this.

Composites with a nice, decorative gelcoat finish such as boats and RV’s require special care to make holes in them for placing bolts and rivets. Disturbing the area around your hole in a gelcoated surface can lead to very expensive repairs by a fiberglass expert.

You can make holes yourself, but it requires extra care and attention. I found a great Youtube video that demonstrates this from user CenturionCrew.

Of course the biggest mistake that can be made is improper placement of the hole.

Following the instructions in the video and drilling a nice slow speed hole is the best way to be successful. He also mentions the caution that must be noted to stop the drill chuck from contacting the gelcoated surface. One tip that I have is to place a small piece of rubber hose over the drill bit to contact the gelcoat before the drill chuck.

One other note with holes (all shapes and sizes) in cored composites fiberglass pieces. If there is a layer of balsa or foam core in the cross section, extra precautions should be exercised. One is to coat the inside surface of the hole with gelcoat, resin, or silicone to keep moisture and UV out of the core.

Another concern is compression of the core with mechanical fasteners. Balsa and foam cores typically are low in density, and are not meant to be highly compressed. If you are going to bolt something on, and it is going to be really tight, it is best to use a metal sleeve in the hole that is the same thickness of the fiberglass part. Large washers or backer plates should also be used to distribute the load across a larger surface.

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Fiberglass vs. Aluminum

AKeson — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:46:18 +0000

A great Youtube video where testing was used to compare aluminum and fiberglass composite panels. This really helps to show the superior characteristics of the fiberglass.

This video covers a quick resin infusion example, repair of the damaged laminate, and other useful information. Peel strength and impact testing is covered, and demonstrates the superiority of fiberglass laminates over aluminum.

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