engineered wood outdoor decking

Most structural applications of wood-plastic composites (WPCs) to date are for residential deck boards and guardrail systems. These manufacturers have typically obtained International Code Council (ICC) Evaluation Service Reports (ESR) that include span ratings. However, some products exist without an ESR. An important point for designers is to be sure to only specify products with ESRs. structure of wood plastic composite
In addition to these commercial deck products, WPC s are being developed for more demanding structural applications such as residential deck substructures, industrial decking, foundation elements and shoreline structures. A range of product performance is possible by manipulating formulation and section design, fiber reinforcement, and capping. For instance, formulations can be developed to optimize properties such as stiffness, strength and ductility; as well as to resist moisture, decay, and fire. Design methodologies for such engineered WPCs are evolving, but have not yet been codified. This article describes a process from which design values may be derived for WPCs and illustrates some recent demonstration projects. deck tile interior
The AEWC 48,000-ft2 facility at the University of Maine is a state-of-the-art "one-stop-shop" for integrated composite-materials/structural-component development with in-house capabilities for developing a composite product or structure from the conceptual stage through research, manufacturing of prototypes, comprehensive testing and evaluation, code approval and commercialization. The Center houses laboratories for composite materials manufacturing science, polymer/interface science, environmental-durability testing, mechanical testing, nondestructive evaluation (NDE), advanced microscopy, and large-scale multidegree-of-freedom static and dynamic structural testing. The Center also houses two pilot plants: a Wood Plastic Composites Pilot Plant and an OSB/OSL Pilot Plant. engineered wood outdoor decking
Steve Watson - Asset Manager at Adelaide City Council said "Using EVERTUFF® for our bridges means that we are investing in infrastructure assets that will last a lifetime and are completely maintenance free. It also gives Council the ability to be environmentally responsible whilst installing a superior structure".
Thermoplastics typically exhibit strong time and temperature dependent responses. Brandt and Fridley (2003) developed load duration factors for WPCs based on high density polyethylene (HDPE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and compared them with timber load duration factors, as summarized in Table 1. The load duration factors can be used to adjust a characteristic value derived from test data, with an approximate 10 minute time to failure, to a "normal duration" of 10 years, as used in timber design. plastic and wooden panels