29 Jan 2026

Composite Materials for Sector Gates and Vertical Lift Gates: Report of FY22–FY24 Project Outcomes

Abstract: This project supported a Statement of Need (SON) submitted to the Navigation Research Area Review Group: SON 2021-1505 by David Weston, Business Line Manager for Inland Navigation (INAV) and Flood Risk Management (FRM) at Jacksonville District. The goal of this study was to provide design guidance, criteria, and performance standards for professionals to use in the design, retrofit, maintenance, and repair of Canaveral sector gates and W. P. Franklin vertical lift gates using structural grade fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. The results also contribute to guidance documentation used for Hydraulic Composite Structures at other INAV structures. Our work focused on four main subject areas: direct field support, workforce education, structural connection design and modal analysis, and inspection guidance. As this research project progressed through three FYs in coordination with stakeholders across the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and industry, the Inland Navigation Design Center (INDC) and the Jacksonville District gained competency in hydraulic composite structures design techniques, which enabled their successful award of a contract for composite bulkheads at Port Mayaca and vertical lift gates at W. P. Franklin.