Project DetailsAgway Feed Plant
Location: Guilderland, NY
Consultants: Ryan Biggs Associates P.C. Troy, NY
Contractor: J.F. Patterson Painting Co., Inc. Mechanicville, N.Y.
Description: The Agway Feed Plant is a slip-formed concrete building with cast-in-place
one-way floor slabs and monolithic beams. The second floor contains manufacturing equipment,
and the third floor is used for storage.
Problem: Agway wanted to upgrade some equipment and increase storage capacity. The concrete
beams were weak in shear. During a previous structural evaluation it was suggested that steel
beams and columns should be used to reinforce the floor framing. This would cost $250,000, and
interfere with production for a period of 4-6 weeks. This was unacceptable to the owner.
Solution: The use of composites to reinforce the floor beams proposed by the consultant.
R.J. Watson, Inc. was secured to supply the Tyfo® Fibrwrap® material in July 1995. Shear cracks
on the beams were at a 30 to 45 degree angle so a fabric was specified with glass fiber strands
perpendicular to each other and oriented at 45 degrees relative to the longitudinal direction of the
fabric.
Benefits: Cost-effective. The project was completed at 24% of the cost of the alternative with
no interruption to production.