ENGINEERING BULLETIN EB-02

PHYSICAL STRENGHT & IMPACT RESISTANCE

This bulletin may not be used for presentations and publications without prior writter permission of Fiberstruct sro

Besides a long lifetime due to its corrosion- and chemical resistance, GRP (Glassfiber Reinforced Plastic)
molded gratings show a load bearing capacity, which differs from steel gratings. We have to study the following
aspects to understand this phenomena:-

- E-modulus (GRP 18.3 KN/mm2 versus steel 210 KN/mm2)

- Glassfiber/Resin ratio & matrix properties

E-modulus of moulded GRP grating

The lower E-modules does not indicate strength but the elasticity. It means that the material/product is much
more flexible (bending radius), and better absorbs forces, which results in a high SF (safety factor) at the
technically acceptable deflection rate. When the grating is exposed to a heavy load or impact, the grating will
bend, and possibly show stress cracks at the bottom side, but will not easily break (see pictures). When the
load is taken away, the grating comes back in to its original shape, and still allows pedestrians to walk on.
Repeating exposure to high impact loads, will increase the deflection, till a moment that the gratings need
replacement. (progressive failure).But no remaining deformation will occur, as will be with steel grating.

Thanks to the low E-modulus, the GRP Due to repeating overstressing, crack will
grating bends, but comes back into the occur at the bottom side, but not cause
original shape afterwards and still enables direct failure
pedestrian service

GRP Grating

Two different grating concepts will be shown on the market. The square mesh grating and a grating, composed
by pultruded bars. Due to the production process, pultruded gratings are less economical for following reasons:
- pultruded gratings (rectangular shape) only offer a uni-directional optimalisation; the bearing capacity is
only in one direction. This means that cutting parts out of a pultruded panel sheet cannot be done
efficiently.
- molded square mesh grating, like Intergrate does offer a bi-directional optimalisation, which enables a
most efficient sizing and cutting of the produced grating panels.

in line installation

square mesh grp grating

bi-idirectional span pultruded grp grating
unidirectional span

Fiberstruct EB-02 - page 1 of 2

The glass/resin ratio is an important aspect, as it has direct influence on strength, impact resistance, elasticity
and last but not least: chemical resistance.

Pultruded gratings are composed by GRP profiles, which are pultruded in a way that most fibers are pulled in a
longitudal direction. This assures a high tensile strength and stiffness, which enables a pultruded grating to a
wider span than most molded gratings. This also due to the related higher stiffness.
This is the reason, that in case of a heavy impact-load, there can occur a direct failure, which relates in a
dangerous situation, as the grating can not any longer be used for pedestrians.
Matching wider span is the only physical advantage of pultruded grating.

Molded gratings offer higher chemical resistance

But also the chemical resistance is remarkably lower compared to moulded GRP grating. During the production
of GRP molded grating, the glass fibers are embedded under pressure in the production mold, using
approximate 65 % resin and 35% glass fibers.
The chemical resistance is created by the quality of the used resin, which can be an ortophtalic-, polyester-,
vinylester-, modar (modified acrylic) or an phenolic resin.
During the pultrusion process, however, a matrix is formed with 65% glass strands and fibers.
One can say, that the higher the resin contents, the higher the chemical resistance will be. The glass fibers
have to be considered being the reinforcement to create strength. (Compare with steel in concrete, which
results in remarkably better physical properties)

Engineering aspects related to deflection and strength

Maximum deflection op the gratings can be found in the Fiberstruct Deflection Table. The allowable deflection
is not based on the relevant designed safety factor, but on the psychological idea of feeling safe.
Feeling a certain deflection can cause fear, when pedestrians are not aware of the high strength of GRP
gratings.
We therefore calculate with a L/d of 1%. This means that the allowable deflection shall not be more than 1% of
the free span (see drawing) . In case deflection is more, we advise to make the choice for a thicker grating. For
instance: 26mm > 30 or 38 mm, or 38mm > 50mm. The thicker the grating, the higher the stiffness.
Especially on high level (offshore platforms), we like to reduce to L/d to 0,8 %, or even 0,5% (ISO 14.122) in
order to suggest safer feelings, although this is absolutely not required related to the physical properties which
offer enough strength.

General Recommendation:
Width of grating Thickness support at 2 sides
max - 750 mm 26 mm results in standard
max - 1100 mm (*) 30 mm deflection results
max 750 - 1200 mm 38 mm
max 1200 - 1500 mm 50 mm F l3
f=
48 E I

deflection max. 1%

free span support at 4 sides

reduces deflection
with 50% and
enables grating
with less thickness
Fiberstruct sro tel. 00-421.566871311
Priemyseln 720 fax. 00-421.566871399
07222 Strske info@fiberstruct.com F l2
Slovensk Republika www.fiberstruct.com f=
E t3

rev.aug.2007hps

Fiberstruct EB-02 - page 2 of 2