Advanced Polymer Materials for Construction and Aquaculture Marketing Development

该奖项是西弗吉尼亚大学支持活动描述如下为期36个月。 该提案是为了响应创新计划征求合作伙伴（NSF 0082）而提交的。西弗吉尼亚州公路部;运输研究委员会;美国交通部拟议的活动拟议的活动包括：开发，制造，实施，现场测试和销售新型蜂窝纤维增强聚合物夹层复合材料，用于民用基础设施和水产养殖业，特别强调公路桥面板，护栏系统，以及模块化养鱼池，用于崎岖地形中受损的矿井供水。 堪萨斯/西弗吉尼亚结构复合材料公司正在西弗吉尼亚大学校园附近建立一个制造工厂。该计划将包括制造技术的成本效益创新;材料和设计的并行优化;原型开发和评估;产品实施和营销;劳动力培训和课程开发;技术转让。 最初的努力将侧重于开发和销售桥面，护栏系统和模块化养鱼池。 可行性研究和现场实施研究得到了西弗吉尼亚州公路部、运输委员会和美国农业部的支持。拟议的创新拟议的创新包括：技术转让复合材料新知识，以改善公路民用基础设施，并为经济企业创造水产养殖技术潜在的经济影响鱼类养殖的估计收入为1200万美元的年销售额（460万美元的年收入），包括大约300个新的就业机会。 公路材料的目标是在1万亿美元的民用基础设施市场中占据潜在的比例。 西弗吉尼亚州估计，40%的公路桥梁急需维修。潜在的社会影响潜在的社会影响包括增加粮食产量，就业机会和改善公路安全。

This award is to The University of West Virginia to support the activity described below for a period of 36 months. The proposal was submitted in response to the Partnernerships for Innovation Program Solicitation (NSF 0082).PartnersUniversity of Akron; Kansas/West Virginia Structural Composites, Inc.; West Virginia Department of Highways; Transportation Research Board; U.S Department of AgricultureProposed ActivitiesThe proposed activities include: develop, manufacture, implement, field-test, and market novel honeycomb fiber-reinforced polymer sandwich composite materials for applications in civil infrastructure and aquaculture industries, with particular emphasis on highway bridge decks, guardrail systems, and modular fish culture tanks for use with impaired mine water supplies in rugged terrain. Kansas/West Virginia Structural Composites, Inc is in the process of establishing a manufacturing plant close to the West Virginia University campus. The program will include cost-effective innovations for manufacturing technologies; concurrent optimization of materials and design; prototype development and evaluation; product implementation and marketing; work-force training and curriculum development; technology transfer. The initial effort will emphasize development and marketing of bridge decks, guardrail systems, and modular fish culture tanks. Feasibility studies and field implementation studies are being supported by West Virginia Department of Highways, Transportation Board, and U.S. Department of Agriculture.Proposed InnovationThe proposed innovation includes: technology transfer of new knowledge of composite materials to improve highway civil infrastructure and to create technology for aquaculture for economic enterprise (fish farming) and food production, as well as education of engineers in design with new materials for civil infrastructure.Potential Economic ImpactEstimated income from fish aquaculture is $12M annual sales ($4.6M annual income) and includes approximately 300 new jobs. Highway materials are targeted to a potential percentage of the $1T civil infrastructure market. West Virginia estimates that 40% of the highway bridges are in immediate need of repair.Potential Societal ImpactPotentail societal impact includes increased food production, jobs, and improved highway safety.