FiberDesign LLC

03/18/2024

Just put up a video on PulCalc V3.0 for the engineering world. V3.0 incorporates the ASCE/SEI FRP Standard, recently released. The world's first FRP code! Orders are coming in from all around the globe.

The latest, PulCalc V3.0, follows the new FRP ASCE/SEI standard. PulCalc works with typical FEA model programs like RISA 3D and the user can enter FRP membe...

03/13/2024

Put up a new YT video on the websdr.

http://sebagolakesdr.us:8901/Location: Maine, USA

02/14/2024

Well....OMG.....the worlds first FRP code is finally here. ASCE just published 74-23 pultruded FRP Standard. Its been in development for nearly 2 decades. It isn't perfect, but off to a good start. Congrats to the ASCE committee!
Its here: https://lnkd.in/eVdbSyX7

As the new pultruded FRP standard has been published by ASCE, it is reasonable to assume some jurisdictions could refer to it. So now is as good a time as any to begin using ASCE 74-23. And now for a shameless plug for my calc program, 😀 PulCalc V3.0, which includes the ASCE 74-23 formulas. You can visit the PulCalc pages here: https://lnkd.in/ey3Pw-Kr

It should be noted that there is a significant difference between the 2010 FRP Pre-Standard formulas and the new 74-23. The latter is a fraction of the 2010 formulas as far as FRP member capacities for Compression (Chapter 4) and Flexure (Chapter 5).

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

01/03/2024

Just completed a big project for one of our clients. Had to do surveys of about 160 cell sites all over Maine. Had a great engineering team! We had just 3 weeks to get the project completed with holidays and winter.

11/09/2023

About to release PulCalc V3.0. I have been working on it for several months, hundreds of programming hours getting ready for the worlds first FRP code for the construction markets. The new ASCE Pultruded FRP Standard is going to have a great affect upon some of the construction markets, especially the telecom sector. I am spearheading a telecom FRP working group composed of engineers across the country to get ready for the code, which is about to be published in the next couple months. It will be another big project to arrange lab testing through either USM (CERL) and/or the UMO's Composites Structures lab. Stay tuned.

11/09/2023

Attended the 1st Maine Space Conference this week. Had a nice time and learned a lot! I have been part of a team working for Maine Space (MaineSpace2030.org). We only go up from here.

01/12/2022

Got this email from my client Joe, who runs an engineering team on the east coast. He lies nicely for me...but its mostly true!

***************
Hey guys,
This is an introductory email so you 4 can meet Peter Sturdivant and he can meet you. Some of you may have worked with Peter while at I### but others had not.
Peter is an engineer, currently owns his own company, has worked at S###X, he operated an FRP Fabrication Shop for years, and helped me design fake Palm Tree branches in a different life. He also knows telecom, RISA-3D, has developed an FRP analysis/design tool that works in conjunction with RISA-3D, and is developing an FRP design standard with ASCE. Most importantly, he’s really really smart!
I’m on-boarding him as a vendor and licensing his PulCalc software so we have access to it. Please introduce yourselves and explain your role at Air###. Feel free to reach out to him for any FRP questions and services you may need.

12/30/2021

We just released PulCalc V2.14. The latest features a new FRP Laminate Calculator. The designer enters in a laminate size, thickness etc, then applies a uniform load and the calculator spits our a deflection. The user can select from various laminates such as hand lay up and pultruded sheet. The calculator will help the engineer design proper framing spans for typical FRP laminates.

PulCalc is a FRP design program that works with structural modeling programs like RISA-3D. Its heavily used around the telecom industry, but also used in others such as wastewater and architecture.

12/23/2021

I created a proposed specification for a new FRP panel for 5G cellular concealment applications. Up to now, we have been using most any FRP laminate. However, the time has come for a new FRP panel that will perform well in the new C Band spectrum as well as
the existing bands. The new specification defines the laminate composition and process. The basis is going to a different glass reinforcement, resin and process. By going to the new spec everyone will be using the same panel with respect to RF performance and mechanical properties. The panel cost is more, but there are many advantages.

I also wrote a white paper that describes the history, why and how.

The spec is here and a contact form to get a copy of the white paper:

fibrdesign.com/2021/12/22/proposed-cellular-5g-c-band-frp-panel-specification-and-white-paper/

With the new 5G C band antennas coming out, the time has come to address a new FRP (Fiber Reinforced Polymer) panel for antenna concealment. 

11/27/2021

Just updated the FD website as some things were a bit old. For example, the Shop Drawings page is now CADD / Shop Drawings as we do a lot of CADD contract work for engineering firms.

www.fibrdesign.com

Cheers
Peter

FiberDesign offers composite design for FRP structure and Laminates. Also available is FRP Design Management for AE firms and FRP Analysis using PulCalc.

09/23/2021

Started working on the new and rather major upgrade to PulCalc, our calculator program for structural FRP used in the engineering world of construction. ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) has just released for public comment their proposed FRP Standard, which has been in development for some 20 years with the release of the 2010 FRP Pre-Standard. The current PulCalc program (V2.13 is latest) uses most of the formulas set forth by the Pre-Standard. The ASD based formulas basically look at allowable FRP compression and flexure stresses which PulCalc then compares to design figures derived from a FEA modeling program like RISA. This allows the structural engineer to design a building structure using PulCalc with the modeling program. Last year I wrote an article that was published on RISA's web site on how to use PulCalc with their excellent 3D modeling program (which I use every day).

The new ASCE, LRFD based FRP proposed standard was put together by an ad hoc committee. I know many on the committee and sent in suggestions here and there as it progressed. I will also be sending in comments to ASCE (I am an associate member) of which I have some major and minor concerns.

The new version of PulCalc that will adopt the new standard will be V3.0, in both ASD and LRFD. It is a major revision to say the least as nearly all the formulas changed! I also decided to do an upgrade to the program which allows the user more flexibility with the material coupon properties. This alone will entail at least a hundred man hours of development.

I also wish to thank Creative Pultrusions for their support in the project. They will save me a lot of work as they had all the new formulas in a spread sheet. But I still have to apply them to PulCalc and that is hundreds of man hours. So the end result is I will be ready for the new standard when it is released, probably first half of 2022. This will be my small contribution to the building industry. PulCalc currently has about 30 subscribers, but I expect that figure to explode with the new code coming into play and become adopted by the IBC (International Building Code) in their latest releases. Over time jurisdictions will adopt the new standard with CA and FL probably leading the way.

Below is the old formula for flexure (bending) for FRP channels. The new one is very different! There are about 2 dozen formulas that we utilize in the program that look at FRP member capacities and connections exposed to wind, water and/or seismic loads.

Cheers.....
Peter

08/12/2021

Our largest clients are completely swamped in work from the telecom world relating to cell site design. T Mobile in particular is building like crazy and has all the engineering teams slammed. Although it has been a quiet summer here, things are changing and a bunch of composites projects are landing in my lap. Most of the focus is in southern California.

Here is one done recently in the LA area, a molded FRP panel in front of antennas. We did an FEA analysis of the panel under design wind load.