Development of FRP Composites As a Sustainable Construction Material

By Syed Ali Zain-ul-Abideen

Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites or advanced composite materials were first used in the civil engineering during the late 1960s to build composite buildings. The construction industry at that time was of the opinion that composite materials should be used as concrete reinforcement. However, it was not until the mid-1980s when the structural design engineers and researchers throughout the world put efforts to investigate the practical use of FRP composites and its variants such as GFRP in building concrete members.

The construction industry was familiar with the unique characteristics of FRP materials, such as high strength and corrosion resistance at the time when they started exploring the potential applications of FRPs in the construction or rehabilitation of concrete structures. However, the high initial cost was really a drawback. In the late 1980s, FRP composites witnessed a breakthrough when they were used in the field of flexural, seismic retrofitting, and shear strengthening of deteriorated concrete structures. Despite the promising results, composite materials are still struggling to fully accepted by all areas of the civil engineering industry.

In the seismic retrofitting and rehabilitation area of civil engineering, the cost to implement composite materials is only a relatively small percentage of the overall cost. FRP materials are inherently lightweight making it possible to undertake fast on-site fabrication which reduces production costs. Its low weight offers an economic benefit in reducing closure period of roads and erection time.

Following the rising need for sustainable and environmentally friendly construction materials, The structural engineers now paying attention to mechanical and in-service properties of FRP and its components. The manufacturing techniques and long-term loading characteristics of FRP have been the point of discussion in civil engineering circles. Looking at the future, and considering the unique qualities, composite materials are likely to play a key role in building sustainable concrete infrastructure.

Undoubtedly, composite materials have become a key component of the construction industry because of their durability, high strength-to-weight ratio, accelerated construction, low life-cycle costs, and superior resistance to corrosion and fatigue. The scope of FRP materials is also expanding in terms of civil infrastructure applications. The civil applications of composites include bridge decks, seawalls, runways, bridge strengthening and repair. Composites are also valuable material when it comes to seismic retrofitting and building marine waterfront structures.

Being a contractor or structural engineer, you should explore FRP and its components such as GFRP fiberglass rebar. These materials can really help construction industry construct maintenance-free concrete members with a lifespan of 100 years.

Tuf-Bar is a leading    GFRP fiberglass rebar manufacturer in Canada, producing the highest-quality construction materials.

A Brief Introduction To Insulation And Insulated Garments

By Syed Ali Zain-ul-Abideen

What is insulation and what kind of impact it has on the clothes' performance? Why do we feel warm and cozy after wearing an insulated jacket? The insulation mechanism does not create heat; it traps the heat and maintains temperature. Insulated clothes reduce the transfer of heat released by our bodies. The prime purpose of insulated clothing is to provide wearer protection against cold.

Clothing plays a crucial role in protecting wearer's body by controlling heat transfer. People who live in areas where the temperature falls to an unbearable level have to wear insulated clothes in order to keep their bodies warm and protected against weather. Workers have to wear insulated coveralls, jackets, and other garments in order to perform their duties effectively and safely. The question is how our bodies lose heat? Following are two of the major channels through which we lose body heat in the cold.

Conduction

Our body releases heat to almost everything it touches. This is why a couch gets warm after you have sat on it for a while. Water can absorb the heat of a body 25 times faster than the air. This is the reason why it is important to stay dry in cold weather.

Convection

Convection refers to the movement of heat from one place to another by the movement of fluids. Air can also steal heat from our body. One of the functions of insulated jackets is to stop air from penetrating the clothes.

The insulated clothing offers a number of benefits including protection against air, snow, wind, etc. It also helps workers mitigate the effects of injuries. Following is one of the benefits of using quality insulated garments.

Built-in breathability

A thick layer of clothes can trap air; thus, making it difficult for sweat to evaporate. This is where technology comes into play. The modern insulated garments maintain the temperature while retaining a degree of breathability. They are manufactured by combining low-density knit with high-loft fibers. So you do not have to wear a combination of clothes in order to stay warm while performing duties at a workplace. Here are some of the examples of insulated workwear garments:

Insulated coveralls

Insulated bib pants

Insulated coats

You can find a variety of insulated workwear depending on your needs and the nature of work. As mentioned earlier, insulated clothes not only warm you up but also provide protection against workplace hazards. Make a good use of insulated clothes and protect yourself against environmental conditions.

Wildrose Garments is a reputable workwear manufacturer in Canada where we design, manufacture and sell a large variety of occupational garments including coveralls, bib pants,    insulated workwear, shop coats, and high-viz safety garments. Place your order now!

What To Never Do If You're In A Bad Mood - Research Says People Who Do This Feel EVEN Worse

By Kelan Ern

Sometimes we feel like lumpy dirt...

It'll happen. And if any expert, doctor, guru, or speaker tries to convince you otherwise - run for the hills and KEEP RUNNING.

Because it'll happen to us all, "feeling bad" is part of the human experience. The truth is, there will be times where we feel down... depressed... upset... or angry.

It'll happen, the question becomes how long do we stay there and how frequently does it happen.

There is an insidious type of feeling bad though. It's a nasty pattern that drags people into feeling even worse... And now research is finally shining a bright spotlight onto this debilitating pattern.

Here it is:

It's where you feel bad... about feeling bad.

Sad about feeling sad.

Depressed about feeling depressed.

Guilty about feeling guilty.

Anxious about feeling anxious.

It's an emotional double-whammy.

Because we aren't just feeling bad but judging ourselves in the process. It's piling guilt onto the negative emotion that we're already feeling. Ouch!

And now research has finally started catching on to the consequences.

A study done by the University of California, published by the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology took 1,300 adults in the Denver and San Francisco area to look at the connection between psychological health and accepting emotions.

Here's what one of the researchers, Brett Ford, found:

"People who accept these emotions without judging or trying to change them are able to cope with their stress more successfully."

I agree with Sir Ford.

It's important first and foremost to be honest about the emotion you are feeling.

Not to tell yourself, I shouldn't be feeling this way... I shouldn't be struggling with this... I shouldn't be reacting this way... This shouldn't be a good deal...

The fact of the matter is - you're feeling bad! And that's okay. It doesn't mean you are week. Or broken. Or something is wrong with you.

You can cut yourself some slack as opposed to beating yourself up because it happens to us all (Even if you don't publicly see it from others)

So accept the emotion you are feeling.

It does NOT mean you have to stay there for long.

It does NOT mean you are settling.

It does NOT mean you are giving up.

It just means you are recognizing the feeling for what it is.

Then you wield power over it... then you can try to change it.

But as soon as you stack guilt. And judge yourself for feeling bad that's when things turn from bad to worse.

P.S. One neat way to overcome anxiety and negative emotions FAST is a special type of breathing that "turns off" the fear-center of the brain (called the "Amygdala")... lowers blood pressure... and gives you mental clarity. And it does this all in about 42-seconds. It was discovered by a leading high-performance psychologist.

Read about it in a free chapter of my book at: http://www.elitelifecoaching.net

Beginner's Guide to Fireworks

By Cole Bumpus

Are you having problems with understanding all of the terminology in the fireworks industry? I have created this beginner's guide so you can understand the basics of many types of fireworks and what each product does.

Roman Candles: These are long sticks that shoot colorful balls out of them. They come in many different sizes. The smaller ones can be held in the hand while lit and the larger ones come with a sharp point so you can stake them into the ground. The large ones get placed in the ground while they shoot many shots into the air. They often contain up to 300 shots. Roman Candles are a classic firework that everyone has to try. The balls shot out are either colorful or contain effects like crackling or reports.

Firecrackers: This is often one of the first things that people think of when fireworks are mentioned. Firecrackers are the classic firework that people of all ages use during the day and night time. They are essentially little containers of flash powder that explode emitting a loud explosive noise. They sometimes have a little bit of color to them, but their main characteristic is the loud bangs. Firecrackers come in individual crackers or strips of multiple crackers. The strips can be strips of 12, 16, 100, 200, or even upwards of 20,000. The strip firecrackers are often the more popular product because of the multiple explosions and almost machine gun like noise to them. Regardless of the occasion, if fireworks are involved, firecrackers are a must have.

Bottle Rockets: Bottle rockets are almost like a small firecracker attached to a thin stick. You place these rockets at an angle so they can self propel into the air and then explode. Some bottle rockets even feature a whistle effect. When the rocket propels itself upward, it emits a loud shrieking whistle sound before exploding in the air. Bottle rockets are a great product to use in the daytime to get a pyro fix before the night time when you shoot off aerial shells and cakes.

Fountains: Fountains are usually small to medium sized objects placed on the ground. When lit, they emit showers of sparks, crackling, and even aerial effects. Fountains can be a great product to use with the family because they put on a little show of their own. They often stay lit for upwards of 3 to 4 minutes. The sparks and bright colors of fountains are sure to leave the children mesmerized.

Want to learn more about fireworks? Visit my blog: http://www.colesfireworks.blogspot.com

The Differences Between Connected Security Cameras and Local Storage Security Cameras

By Mitchell Carlson

Years ago, home security systems required expensive equipment and were often run by third parties. Security cameras today offer more features than the complex systems of yesterday, and cost much less, too!

The personal security camera market has exploded in popularity, and there are many options on the market. It is important to consider the features and benefits of each camera to see which one fits your needs.

Most home security cameras today fall into two major categories:

Cloud cameras

Local storage cameras

Cloud Cameras

These devices are the easiest to set up and maintain, requiring only a power cord and an internet connection. Cloud cameras record and upload footage to a third-party server. You can then view the live or recorded video feed from a web browser or smart phone app anywhere in the world. This is ideal for checking in on the house at work or on vacation.

These cameras often feature motion detection. When the device detects movement, it flags the recording and notifies you. This allows you to skip the sections of video where nothing happens and get right to the important parts of interest.

Cloud cameras are great because they save the content online for you. This makes your camera accessible from anywhere, but there are some drawbacks. Some cloud camera services require you to pay subscription fees for the online video storage. There may be limits on how long the video is stored. If you wait too long, it could be lost forever.

Cloud cameras can also create privacy issues. Some people are understandably uncomfortable with video of their home being uploaded to the internet. While cases of abuse are far and in between, it is possible for a rogue employee to view your camera. It is also possible for a person with malicious intent to hack your camera and intercept the video. Because of this, it is recommended not to place cloud cameras in private spaces.

Local Storage Cameras

If the thought of cloud cameras puts you off, perhaps a camera with local storage would be better. These cameras store the video on a physical hard drive or flash drive in your home. Nothing is uploaded to the internet unless you choose to do so.

The advantage to local storage cameras is control and privacy; however, the footage will be less accessible. You may have to connect to your home network or actually plug into the camera or hard drive itself to view the recordings.

If you're looking for a challenge, you can have the best of both worlds by building your own connected camera! If you run your own camera and web server, you can create a website for your device. Then you can view the camera from a web browser anywhere you choose. In this situation, you retain the recordings locally, so no third parties should have access. Of course, this takes more work and still opens you up to the potential threat of camera hackers.

Regardless of the option you choose, home security is better and more affordable than ever before. Consider adding a camera to your home to protect from theft and damages.

Mitchell Carlson - Founder of The SmartHome Experts

Website:    https://www5.cob.ilstu.edu/mscarls/

Check out our website for more information about connected cameras and other smart devices! We offer consultations and resources to get you on the right track.