Use of Composite Material for Sector Gates and Vertical Lift Gates

There is a constant need or demand for U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) infrastructure to be more resilient and cost effective with respect to maintenance. USACE Engineering Research and Development Center (ERDC) has worked with Rijkswaterstaat from the Netherlands to build fiber reinforced polymer composite miter gates. ERDC can develop composite gates and other components on water control structures at locks and dams. Thus, the Jacksonville District Office of USACE performed a charrette to explore using composites and/or steel to repair and/or replace the 60-year-old sector gates at St. Lucie Lock. The results demonstrated that composite type sector gates were the best alternative to replace those sector gates due to their resiliency and lower costs over a 100-year period of life. This paper and the corresponding presentation will show some of the benefits of using composites and how it would eliminate some maintenance issues with respect to corrosion and cathodic protection, thermal expansion, and painting, etc.