Structure of the Future - Today

Made from Space Age Carbon Fiber

Presented by: Mike Kipp, CTO ACTR: 801-921-9600: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Patrick Burke, CTO GlobeLink Telecom: 907-243-0118: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

GlobeLink Telecom of Anchorage, AK and American Consulting Technology & Research (ACTR) of Provo, Utah have engineered and are co-developing the first heavy load structure made from carbon fiber.  This new support member is configured for tower applications assembled in 3 or 4 leg self support, guyed, monopole, telescoping and transportable models. This low-cost carbon fiber structure is manufactured in a round lattice matrix of carbon fiber strands layered in a geometric pattern trade named GeoStrut.  The strut is the patented invention of ACTR Inc.

The environmentally responsible, noncorrosive, low conductive carbon material offers a multitude of benefits ideal for tower or pole configurations.  The ultra light carbon fiber material is less than 10% the weight and twice the strength of steel.  The lightweight structure reduces tower erection to hours versus days or weeks without the need of a heavy lift crane. The steel tower is arduous to construct, costly

to manufacture and uses valuable resources considered in short supply.

Section lugs mating diameter changes

The strut lattice configuration has half the wind load as a solid surface while maintaining high antenna load capacity.  This reduced wind load permits a 50% reduction in the foundation requirement, a major cost item. Carbon fiber excels in abrasion resistance, disaster survivability (fire, hurricane & earthquake) and maintenance as it will never corrode or need painting. The made in American towers use American ingenuity, America's carbon fiber technologies and raw material.

In addition to the economic considerations, the carbon fiber tower is environmentally friendly using readily available raw material as the core properties of the structure eliminating the unfriendly and costly process of hot dip galvanizing.  The carbon fiber raw material is readily available in all areas of the United States where it is extracted and processed, with no negative impact on the environment.

The carbon fiber composition has dramatic temperature extremes while maintaining extremely high tensile strength evidenced by its use on the Space Shuttle, F-35 Fighter and the Boeing Dreamliner.

GeoStrut Technology benefits include:

• Lightest mass-production capable carbon fiber structure in the world
• Comparable unit pricing
• Highest weight to strength ratio
• Highest antenna load capacity
• Lowest shipping and handling cost
• Lowest installation labor cost
• Shortest installation time
• Lowest maintenance
• Longest lifespan

Table 1: Material comparison

Mpa = Higher the number, greater the force required to cause structural failure

Gpa = Elasticity is an indicator of a materials ability to deform and return to original size and shape, lower the number, greater its ability

g/cc = Density is a physical characteristic, and is a measure of mass per unit of volume

The combination of lower density & higher tensile strength allow the design of structures to carry higher loads on a support system that has

been reduced 90% in overall dead-weight

Table 2: Comparison of wind forces on a 100 ft wind turbine tower made as a solid cylinder and of GeoStrut tube.

* The tower weight is based on an equivalent 100 ft steel cylinder of 1/8" wall thickness.

Table 2 is a direct comparison of properties of two monopoles of different material.  The table illustrates the structures are exhibiting the same projected area and are subjected to the same wind load (40 psf = 100 mph wind speed).  The lattice design of GeoStrut allows air to pass through the structure as indicated by the lower drag coefficient.  The result of this fifty percent reduction in drag coefficient is a fifty percent reduction in wind load forces.  This reduced load reduces the foundation required to resist the load reactions.

This GeoStrut Monopole can be transported and delivered with a standard pick-up truck or easily flown by small helicopter to remote locations.  At the end of the first day, the tower crew can have the carbon fiber monopole assembled and erected in place.  The standard steel monopole requires heavy equipment for transport, delivery and erection.  Additionally the steel monopole foundation is twice the size of its carbon counterpart.

The Carbon Fiber Support Structure:

• Telecommunications antennas
• Wind turbines
• Utility & telephone pole (environment safe for direct bury applications)
• Building framing
• Pier and platform supports
• Highway barrier (yields w/strength absorbing impact forces saving lives)
• Fence post or flag pole

Click on images below to read full article from Above  Ground Level Magazine or click here to download PDF