Fiber reinforced metal construct for reduced fatigue and metal embrittlement in susceptible structural applications

Abstract

An assembly of structural elements, having significant asymmetric engineering properties, such as iron and glass, providing fatigue resistant structural composites.

1 . The means and methods of making a structural member of reinforced ferrous material comprising using an amount of non-metallic fiber reinforcement structurally attached to said ferrous material.  
   
   
       2 . An assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the said ferrous material surface and near-surface is metallurgically alloyed with another metal before attachment of said non-metallic fiber reinforcement.  
   
   
       3 . An assembly as in  claim 2 , wherein said ferrous-alloy surface is partly removed before attachment of said non-metallic fiber reinforcement.  
   
   
       4 . An assembly as in  claim 3 , wherein attachment of non-metallic fiber reinforcement is with a resin.  
   
   
       5 . An assembly as in  claim 4 , wherein said resin is catalyst-sensitive to the alloying metal.  
   
   
       6 . An assembly as in  claim 2 , wherein the said ferrous material surface and near-surface is metallurgically alloyed via the hot-dip galvanizing process before attachment of said non-metallic fiber reinforcement.  
   
   
       7 . An assembly as in  claim 6 , where in said ferrous-zinc alloy surfaces are partly exposed by removal of some of the galvanized ferrous material's external zinc surface before attachment of said non-metallic fiber reinforcement.  
   
   
       8 . An assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein said non-metallic fiber reinforcement is substantially in excess of that warranted, said ferrous material is compressed before being structurally attached to said non-metallic fiber reinforcement and after affecting said structural attachment, releasing said ferrous material to tension the said non-metallic fiber reinforcement throughout its structural attachment with said ferrous material.  
   
   
       9 . An assembly as in  claim 2 , wherein said non-metallic fiber reinforcement is substantially in excess of that warranted, said ferrous material is compressed before being structurally attached to said non-metallic fiber reinforcement and after affecting said structural attachment, releasing said ferrous material to tension the said non-metallic fiber reinforcement throughout its structural attachment with said ferrous material.  
   
   
       10 . An assembly as in  claim 3 , wherein said non-metallic fiber reinforcement is substantially in excess of that warranted, said ferrous material is compressed before being structurally attached to said non-metallic fiber reinforcement and after affecting said structural attachment, releasing said ferrous material to tension the said non-metallic fiber reinforcement throughout its structural attachment with said ferrous material.  
   
   
       11 . An assembly as in  claim 4 , wherein said non-metallic fiber reinforcement is substantially in excess of that warranted, said ferrous material is compressed before being structurally attached to said non-metallic fiber reinforcement and after affecting said structural attachment, releasing said ferrous material to tension the said non-metallic fiber reinforcement throughout its structural attachment with said ferrous material.  
   
   
       12 . An assembly as in  claim 5 , wherein said non-metallic fiber reinforcement is substantially in excess of that warranted, said ferrous material is compressed before being structurally attached to said non-metallic fiber reinforcement and after affecting said structural attachment, releasing said ferrous material to tension the said non-metallic fiber reinforcement throughout its structural attachment with said ferrous material.  
   
   
       13 . An assembly as in  claim 6 , wherein said non-metallic fiber reinforcement is substantially in excess of that warranted, said ferrous material is compressed before being structurally attached to said non-metallic fiber reinforcement and after affecting said structural attachment, releasing said ferrous material to tension the said non-metallic fiber reinforcement throughout its structural attachment with said ferrous material.  
   
   
       14 . An assembly as in  claim 7 , wherein said non-metallic fiber reinforcement is substantially in excess of that warranted, said ferrous material is compressed before being structurally attached to said non-metallic fiber reinforcement and after affecting said structural attachment, releasing said ferrous material to tension the said non-metallic fiber reinforcement throughout its structural attachment with said ferrous material.  
   
   
       15 . An assembly as in  claim 4 , wherein said compression of said ferrous material is achieved by reducing its temperature below its intended ambient temperature range use.  
   
   
       16 . An assembly as in  claim 15 , wherein temperature reduction of ferrous material is achieved with the aid of thermoacoustical means and methods.  
   
   
       17 . An assembly as in  claim 14 , wherein voids are present within the ferrous material for the purpose of using cabling to apply a compressive force on said ferrous material.  
   
   
       18 . An assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein said non-metallic fiber reinforcement element is structurally attached to more than one ferrous material element.  
   
   
       19 . An assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein said ferrous material element is structurally attached to more than one non-metallic fiber reinforcement element.  
   
   
       20 . An assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein said non-metallic fiber reinforcement electrically insulates said ferrous material.