I have access to a bunch of used FRP rods, 1" in diameter x 40 feet long with metal ends.
I do not know yet if the plastic part is conventional polyester resin or nylon.
In normal use these rods are subject to high tension, and low bending stresses. (Wells are not as straight as illustrations in books would indicate, but the curve radius is large.)
I want to repurpose thse as shelter frames. This will involve putting about a 45 degree arc on a 40 foot bar. This puts the outside of the bar in tension.
A: If I know then general PSI regime of these in use, and the modulus of elaticity, can I calculate the degree of curvature before failure. Yeah. Used material., big safety margins. But being able to to a rough figure can determine if I'm wasting my time, or if I just jsut turn them into fence posts.
B: What failure modes can I expect? I think they will crack from the outside, straighten abrubtly with a kink at the crack point, until the remaining material can bend sufficiently. But then I had a real WTF moment the first time I saw tempered glass explode. I'd really like to not collect a darwin award.
