Attachment 3 - Rail Specifications.pdf

• Contractor to verify and specify lengths required.

• Standard color.

• Resin is Polyester. Do not use Vinyl Ester resin. Vinyl Ester has too much bonding. The sealant/adhesive selected is recommended for bonding FRP to concrete.

• Lead time on material is a placeholder and is to be determined by Contractor.

• Profile shall support a wheel with load of 900lbs over a 12 inch span.

Item 002

Description: 7.875”x3.125”x3.875”x1/8 Fiberglass Trough Profile, Fiberglass Reinforced Polymer Profile

Area: 1.68 inch^2

Die/Tooling Cost = $XXX ,lead time: 3 months+, Contractor to verify lead time.

Order Quantity = 720/Lineal feet. Contractor to verify lengths required.

• Contractor to verify and specify lengths.

• Standard color..

• Resin is Polyester.

• Lead time on material is a placeholder and is to be determined by Contractor.

• The Profile shown on dwg. R-100 shall support a wheel with load of 900lbs over a 12 inch span, Houma Rail Replacement Specifications for Fiberglass Reinforces Polymer Profiles

DESCRIPTION: Fiberglass Rail Profile, Fiberglass Trough Profile, Work these specs with dwg. R-100.

Item 001

Description: 3.504”x2.938” Tall x ½” thick, Hollow Custom rail profile, Fiberglass Reinforced Polymer Profile

Area: 5.103 inch^2

Die/Mandrel/Tooling Cost = $XXX, lead time: estimated at 3 months +, Contractor to verify lead time.

Order Quantity = 720/lineal feet. Contractor to verify lengths required.

All tolerances are to ASTM D3917-15, ASTM D4385-13 and LPI or Print standards.

System Description The proposed assembly consists of the following components:

• FRP Structural Member A pultruded FRP tube with 1/2-inch thick walls, selected for its high strength and excellent corrosion resistance.

• Epoxy Grout Infill The interior of the tube is completely filled with high-strength epoxy grout with a compressive strength on the order of 9,000 psi. This grout provides a solid internal core and distributes loads effectively through the member.

• Support Condition The FRP/grout member is continuously supported along its length by a 24-inch thick concrete slab. The system behaves as a solid bearing block rather than a spanning beam.

• Adhesive / Sealant Bedding Layer A flexible adhesive/sealant is used between the FRP/grout member and the concrete. This layer functions as a bedding and sealant to accommodate expansion and contraction and to provide uniform bearing. It is not relied upon as a primary structural connector.

• Service Loading A steel wheel passes over the FRP surface approximately twice per day. The wheel load has been evaluated to produce a contact stress on the order of 2,000 psi in the member.

Structural Performance

The FRP tube has an ultimate strength on the order of 30,000 psi, and the epoxy grout has a compressive strength of approximately 9,000 psi. Under the anticipated wheel loading:

• The FRP shell is operating at roughly 6–7% of its ultimate strength.

• The grout core is operating at approximately 20–25% of its compressive strength.

This indicates a substantial margin between service demand and material capacity.

Because the tube is fully filled, the FRP wall is continuously backed by grout, greatly reducing the potential for local buckling or crushing under the wheel load. The load path can be summarized as:

Wheel → FRP shell → epoxy grout core → thin flexible bedding layer → 24" concrete slab.

The primary load-carrying elements are the FRP shell, the grout core, and the concrete slab. The adhesive/ sealant provides bedding, seals the interface, and accommodates movement, but is not counted on for primary strength in shear or tension.

Given the low stress level and the very small number of load cycles (two passes per day), fatigue damage is not expected to be a governing concern over the normal design life of the system.

Environmental Performance – Houma, Louisiana

Houma’s climate is hot, humid, and coastal, with frequent rainfall and potential storm exposure. These conditions are demanding for conventional steel but are well suited to the proposed FRP/grout system when properly detailed.

Key points include:

• Corrosion Resistance FRP and epoxy grout do not rust, making them highly suitable for a humid and potentially salt-influenced environment.

• Moisture and Temperature The grout-filled, continuously supported member is stable under wet conditions and daily temperature swings. The flexible bedding layer helps accommodate differential expansion and contraction between FRP, grout, and concrete, reducing stresses at the interface.

With these measures, the system is expected to provide robust, long-term performance with relatively low maintenance requirements.

Chemical Exposure – Triple 13 Fertilizer Routine use of granular 13-13-13 fertilizer and similar products introduces periodic contact with fertilizer granules and dilute fertilizer solutions in the vicinity of the system.

From a design standpoint:

• Impact on Structural Capacity Fertilizer exposure does not change the gravity or wheel-load design for the FRP/grout/concrete system. The member remains governed by the mechanical loads described above, with stresses well below material capacities.

• Compatibility with FRP and Grout Pultruded FRP and epoxy grout are generally well suited to environments where fertilizers and saline solutions are present, especially at the modest exposure levels expected in normal operational use. The FRP system will be specified with an appropriate resin and a protective finish to further enhance resistance to fertilizer-related chemical exposure and surface staining.

• Adhesive / Sealant Bedding Layer The flexible adhesive/sealant will be selected with consideration for agricultural chemical exposure, including contact with fertilizers and wash-down solutions. The adhesive is used as a bedding and movement-accommodating layer rather than as a primary structural connector, which adds conservatism to the design. The bond line is confined and protected by the surrounding elements, limiting direct long-term exposure.

• Concrete and Housekeeping The FRP/grout member shields the concrete slab directly beneath it. In surrounding areas, standard good-practice housekeeping—periodic sweeping of granules and rinsing of spills—will further limit any long-term chemical effects on exposed concrete surfaces and help maintain a clean, nonslip wheel path.

Overall, Triple 13 fertilizer is treated as an environmental/chemical exposure consideration rather than a structural load, and the system materials and detailing are selected to perform reliably under these expected conditions.

Summary In summary:

• The FRP tube filled with high-strength epoxy grout and continuously supported on a 24-inch concrete slab provides a strong, durable, and corrosion-resistant solution for the anticipated wheel loads at the USDA Sugarcane Research Laboratory.

• Service stresses are a small fraction of the materials’ capacities, resulting in a comfortable safety margin.

• The flexible adhesive/sealant bedding layer is used to promote uniform bearing and accommodate movement rather than to serve as a primary structural connector.

• The system is well suited to Houma’s hot, humid, coastal environment, and the materials and details have been selected with routine fertilizer exposure in mind, including appropriate surface protection and housekeeping provisions.

Sincerely, http://www.neutron-shield.com/