Modelling of greenhouse with CTP profiles produced by pultrusion method

Key Words : Glass Fiber, Resin, Pultrusion, Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic (GRP), Modeling of Greenhouse, Static Analysis, Dynamic Analysis Various greenhouse structural materials and new technological developments have been investigated as a result of technological developments in the world. One of the new technological materials is the Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic (GRP) materials. Glass fibre reinforced plastic materials are basically constituted of resin and continuous or chopped fibers. They are manufactured using various manufacturing methods. The pultrusion process is a proven manufacturing method for obtaining lengths of high quality GRP. In this study, mechanical and physical properties of GRP produced via pultrusion method, which is used in greenhouse, were determined by standard test methods. Mechanical properties determined by experiments were compared with mechanical properties calculated as theoretical analysis. Furthermore, fiber/matrix volume ratio (Vf/Vm) determined using experimental methods and it was compared with producer company. When calibration was achieved with results obtained from comparisons and so, more experiments was unnecessary. Determined mechanical properties were used to model structural system using finite element SAP 2000 package program. As a result of modelling, the behavior of materials under dynamic and static loads was determined and those results were compared with steel that is conventional greenhouse material and than cost analyses were computed.