Carbon fiber re-enforced composite sheet piling segments

Abstract

A carbon fiber re-enforced composite segment of sheet piling has been developed. The segment of sheet piling includes a base material and carbon fibers that re-enforce the base material. Other fiber materials could be used in place of carbon. These materials include: aramid, kevlar, metal cords, and basalt. Additionally, a mixture of any of these types of materials could be used as a fiber re-enforcement for the sheet piling segment.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A segment of sheet piling, comprising: 
 a base material; and    carbon fibers that re-enforce the base material.    
     
     
         2 . The segment of sheet piling in  claim 1 , where the base material is polyurethane.  
     
     
         3 . The segment of sheet piling in  claim 1 , where the base material is a polymer material.  
     
     
         4 . The segment of sheet piling in  claim 1 , where the carbon fibers comprise 1-70 percent of the volume of the segment of sheet piling.  
     
     
         5 . A segment of sheet piling, comprising: 
 a base material; and    aramid fibers that re-enforce the base material.    
     
     
         6 . The segment of sheet piling in  claim 1 , where the base material is polyurethane.  
     
     
         7 . The segment of sheet piling in  claim 1 , where the base material is a polymer material.  
     
     
         8 . The segment of sheet piling in  claim 1 , where the aramid fibers comprise 1-70 percent of the volume of the segment of sheet piling.  
     
     
         9 . A segment of sheet piling, comprising: 
 a base material; and    kevlar fibers that re-enforce the base material.    
     
     
         10 . The segment of sheet piling in  claim 1 , where the base material is polyurethane.  
     
     
         11 . The segment of sheet piling in  claim 1 , where the base material is a polymer material.  
     
     
         12 . The segment of sheet piling in  claim 1 , where the kevlar fibers comprise 1-70 percent of the volume of the segment of sheet piling.  
     
     
         13 . A segment of sheet piling, comprising: 
 a base material; and    basalt fibers that re-enforce the base material.    
     
     
         14 . The segment of sheet piling in  claim 1 , where the base material is polyurethane.  
     
     
         15 . The segment of sheet piling in  claim 1 , where the base material is a polymer material.  
     
     
         16 . The segment of sheet piling in  claim 1 , where the basalt fibers comprise 1-70 percent of the volume of the segment of sheet piling.  
     
     
         17 . A segment of sheet piling, comprising: 
 a base material; and    a mixture of fibers that re-enforce the base material, where the mixture of fibers comprises at least two types of materials; and    where the materials of the mixture of fibers are selected from the group consisting of: carbon, aramid, kevlar, basalt, metal cords, or glass.    
     
     
         18 . A segment of sheet piling, comprising: 
 a base material; and    means for re-enforcing the base material with a fiber material.    
     
     
         19 . A segment of sheet piling, comprising: 
 a base material; and    metal cords that re-enforce the base material.    
     
     
         20 . The segment of sheet piling in  claim 19 , where the base material is polyurethane.  
     
     
         21 . The segment of sheet piling in  claim 19 , where the base material is a polymer material.  
     
     
         22 . The segment of sheet piling in  claim 19 , where the metal cords comprise a plurality of twisted wires.  
     
     
         23 . The segment of sheet piling of  claim 19 , where the metal cords are woven into a mat.  
     
     
         24 . A segment of sheet piling, comprising: 
 a base material; and    means for re-enforcing the base material with metal cords.