AU
NZ
UK
Video
SpaceGass Design with Treadwell FRP Structural Profiles
This Tech Talk Tuesday session is presented by Treadwell’s Product Development Engineer, who is also part of the structural engineering team. The webinar walks through how to use Treadwell’s FRP structural profiles inside SPACEGASS, from loading the custom member library to checking deflection, strength and connections for real-world FRP structures.
The talk focuses on:
- Importing Treadwell profile libraries into SPACEGASS
- Using realistic FRP material properties based on ACMA pultruded FRP design guidance
- Running serviceability and ultimate limit state checks
- Designing bolted FRP connections and bracing layouts
- Understanding how long-term effects, temperature and moisture influence design values for FRP
The result is a practical workflow for consultants who want to model FRP structures in a familiar steel- or timber-style environment while still respecting the unique behaviour of composites. Fibre-reinforced polymer profiles are pultruded structural members that combine glass reinforcement with resin to provide high corrosion resistance and good strength-to-weight ratios for civil and industrial applications.
Key Benefits
Ready to use SpaceGass member library for FRP
Treadwell provides SPACEGASS section library files that contain its FRP structural shapes, so engineers do not need to build every profile from scratch. The library covers I-beams, channels, equal angles, and square hollow sections from the ArchitEX™ range, with geometry and section properties preloaded. Using verified section data reduces the risk of manual input errors and speeds up early design iterations.
FRP material properties aligned with ACMA design guidance
The webinar explains that the Young’s modulus used in the SPACEGASS material definition already includes reduction factors from the ACMA Pre Standard for Load and Resistance Factor Design of Pultruded FRP Structures, which account for resin system, temperature, and moisture effects. This allows consultants to use realistic stiffness values for deflection calculations rather than idealised coupon data.
Clear workflow for deflection-driven design
Because FRP has a lower modulus than steel, serviceability deflection often governs the design well before the structure reaches its ultimate strength. The presenter shows how to check deflections in SPACEGASS, then verify bending, shear, and stability against ACMA capacity equations and Treadwell design data. That sequence reflects how FRP structures are often controlled by stiffness, not just stress levels.
Practical connection design examples
The session steps through typical connection checks for a 152 millimetre deep member, including:
- Bolt layout based on edge and end distances from ACMA guidance
- Failure modes such as bearing, net tension and shear out
- When a double shear angle connection is required instead of a single shear
The talk highlights that connection capacity depends on profile thickness and fibre direction, so these details must be checked independently of the global frame analysis.
Integrated bracing and stability approach
Using a simple portal-style example, the presenter demonstrates that lateral torsional buckling capacity increases dramatically when torsional bracing is added along a member, and how this is reflected in the ACMA formulas. This makes it easier for designers to judge when to add bracing to unlock the full bending capacity of an FRP beam rather than simply over-sizing members.
Conservative online tools that complement SpaceGass
Treadwell’s online design tools use a global factor of safety of approximately 3 for member checks, which is deliberately conservative relative to typical partial factor approaches. That provides engineers with a quick screening method, while the SPACEGASS workflow enables detailed analysis when projects require it. Combining both provides a substantial safety margin for long-term FRP performance in demanding environments.
Applications
Industrial platforms and walkways
The example model shows a multi-bay access platform with 3 metre joist spacing, 2.4 metre width, and up to 7 metre-high columns under a 4 kilopascal live load. This is representative of many back-of-house access structures in treatment plants, industrial facilities and resource sites, where corrosion resistance and reduced maintenance are critical. Pultruded FRP profiles are widely used for such platforms in water and wastewater treatment, chemical processing and marine environments.
FRP framing for boardwalks and public infrastructure
Although the webinar focuses on SPACEGASS modelling rather than a specific project, the same workflow applies to boardwalks, viewing platforms and other outdoor structures where Treadwell’s FRP beams and joists support grating or decking. These applications benefit from FRP’s resistance to rot and biological attack compared with timber, and from its lower maintenance requirements than coated steel.
Cable support and secondary framing
The connection and bracing checks are also relevant for smaller section FRP frames used to support cable ladder and tray systems. Accurate analysis of bending, shear and joint capacity helps ensure that lightweight FRP structures can safely carry electrical or instrumentation cabling in corrosive or electrically sensitive environments where non-conductive support systems are preferred.
Retrofit upgrades and long-term exposure scenarios
Because the method incorporates long-term reduction factors for temperature, moisture and chemical exposure, it is especially suitable for structures in aggressive environments such as coastal, industrial or wastewater sites, where FRP’s durability is the primary reason for its selection. The approach encourages engineers to consider design life and environmental conditions when selecting section sizes and verifying capacities.
Key Moments
- 00:00 👷 Overview of Treadwell and SPACE GASS functionality in structural engineering.
- 01:02 🏗️ Treadwell specializes in composite FRP products for various applications, including access systems and recreational infrastructure.
- 04:02 📊 Introduction to typical project applications utilizing Treadwell’s composite FRP material.
- 05:10 📉 SPACE GASS models can analyze FRP structures similar to timber and steel, addressing deflection, design loads, and more.
- 06:59 📁 Users can download FRP profiles directly from the Treadwell resources center to simplify design processes.
- 09:19 ⚙️ Deflection checking is crucial in FRP design due to its lower modulus compared to steel, influencing overall structural performance.
- 10:10 📚 ACMA standards are referenced for design checks, emphasizing the credibility of material testing and guidelines.
- 12:06 🔗 Tension and compression checks follow ACMA standards, highlighting the importance of connection design in FRP structures.
- 15:15 🧩 Connection failure modes must be considered in design, making effective design and thickness choices critical.
- 19:02 📞 Online tools use a conservative safety factor for engineering, ensuring designs are robust across variable conditions.
Why Treadwell ?
Treadwell provides more than just FRP profiles. In this webinar, the team shows how they support engineers with:
- A complete library of FRP sections and material definitions ready for SPACEGASS
- Design data and capacity checks aligned with the current ACMA FRP design practice
- Practical example models that reflect real platforms and access structures
- Guidance on deflection control, stability, connection detailing and long-term reduction factors
- Technical support from in-house structural engineers and product development specialists
By combining purpose-built FRP products with robust analysis workflows, Treadwell helps consultants deliver lighter, corrosion-resistant and low-maintenance structures that still meet modern code requirements for strength and serviceability.
