Cyrco's FRP Fiberglass Square Tube Shear Bushings

Creates a Shear Service Factor of 6.0, twice the Cooling Tower Institute's (CTI) recommended standard; withstands a Category 6 Hurricane!*

     

 

• Maximizes load-bearing strength of cooling tower FRP (fiberglass reinforced polyester) structure; capable of withstanding a Category 6 Hurricane.*
• Out-performs all other competitors in independent, laboratory tests*
• Doubles the minimum 3.0 Cooling Tower Institute (CTI) Shear Service Factor
• The two ends meet in the middle (mates) which doubles the torque safety factor, immensely reducing FRP cracked tubing
• Encases the bolt’s threading, preventing FRP hole wear
• Locks in place and guides the bolt for faster assembly
• Available in three commonly used sizes: 1/2" bolt 3.5" tube, 1/2" bolt 3" tube, and 3/8" bolt 3" tube
• Designed, developed, and manufactured by Cyrco; patented
• Made in the U.S.A. of quality polymer
• Pre-installation available through major FRP cooling tower retailers
• Manufacturer-direct; pricing also available for retailers and wholesalers

 

*Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering of North Carolina A&T State University

 

    

One of the major advancements in today’s construction of field erected cooling towers is the use of pultruded FRP fiberglass square tubes for structural tower framing. Pultruded FRP framed towers are lighter and cheaper than steel and unlike traditional wooden framed towers, they are unaffected by moisture, even after decades of exposure and direct contact with water. The lighter mass weight of FRP fiberglass also costs less to ship compared to wood, and is not even comparable to the expensive freight shipping of heavy steel. The fire resistance properties of FRP framing is another benefit of the material especially compared to traditional wooden framed cooling towers.

One of the slight disadvantages of FRP framing is that the material is somewhat flexible and more susceptible to excessive winds and storm damage. Flexing causes movement and bolt friction to the hole in the FRP fiberglass. With back and forth movement, over time the bolt hole size slowly increases. This is especially true where contact is made with the bolt’s threading that now acts like a metal file on plastic fiberglass. Eventually with continuous movement and flexing, the hole sizes increases at a more rapid pace, eventually making the tower more prone to a structural collapse.

Cyrco developed, patented, and manufactures a FRP Shear Bushing that fully encloses the bolt which then overcomes the FRP fiberglass hole wear caused by bolt friction. In addition to preventing FRP hole wear, Cyrco’s FRP Shear Bushing mate in the middle which stops the operator from over torquing the bolts and prevents stress cracking to the FRP fiberglass. Another advantage of our mating bushings is that the tubular connections act as a guide for the bolts, making for a much faster assembly.

Results from a series of independent testing performed by the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengeering of North Carolina, outlined that Cyrco’s FRP Shear Bushings clearly outperformed all other commonly used FRP shear bushings. Cyrco’s FRP Shear Bushings created a tower shear service factor of 6.0, which is twice the Cooling Tower Institute (CTI) recommended standard.

In all FRP framing applications, but especially in high wind geographic locations such as coastal plains where hurricanes and tropical storms are frequent, Cyrco strongly recommends the use of our FRP Shear Bushings. With the use of Cyrco’s FRP Shear Bushings, today’s FRP cooling tower’s framing can now become capable of withstanding a Category 6 hurricane.