Our Insights

"Composite materials like fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) rebars offer higher tensile strength than Grade 60 steel at just a quarter of the weight—and unlike steel, they don’t corrode. This leads to longer service life for concrete structures. Among the various fibers used in FRP bars, basalt fiber stands out as a naturally sourced and sustainable alternative."​

"Using basalt rebar streamlined our tilt-up wall construction process, offering exceptional ease of use compared to steel rebar. Its lighter weight, easy handling, and resistance to corrosion have translated into substantial labor savings, allowing us to achieve efficiency without compromising on structural strength."​

"BFRP rebar is stronger and more durable than the minimum criteria set for GFRP bars and appears to be a viable alternative as a non-corrosive rebar option."​

"The benefits of this bridge-building method are threefold. First, the arches are an instant framework. Second, you don’t need any steel reinforcing bars or rebar, because the arches are twice as strong as steel. And third, the tubes protect the concrete from water and elements, extending the life of the concrete."​

"Whenever you introduce a new technology like this, contractors don’t always jump on it because there’s a fear that it’s going to be difficult to build. One of the beauties of [our composite bridge system] is that it’s built exactly the same way as you would build a steel girder or a concrete girder bridge."​

"A lot of our time-saving activities once we got to the superstructure were absolutely governed by the weight of the girders themselves and the ability to do more things at once"​

"It’s a combination of people who know how to build things, how to design things in the real world, plus our knowledge at the University in composite materials. Putting all that together really helped us develop the very unique secret sauce that I think will change how composites will be built in the future."​

"Even though we knew this would be erected really quickly out in the field, the speed surprised us. It didn’t take very long for them to get their tubes in place, to get all the decking in place and start the backfill process. When you walk into a brand-new product like this, there is a certain level of risk. But there were just no issues at all with the construction."​