(West Virginia University)
The Achilles heel in any structural system performance is its joint, especially under hurricanes, earthquakes and blast loads. A three-part joint strengthening composite system invented by West Virginia University researchers, enhances the energy absorption, durability, and fire resistance of a structure in a cost-effective manner. This has been validated after extensive testing and evaluation, exhibiting at least a five-fold strength increase. This invention is timely to revitalize crumbling US infrastructure, while saving thousands of lives. In addition, multi-functional capabilities of this system also make it suitable to produce high-quality end products in aerospace, automotive, defense, marine, furniture and other industries.