Wood support piling with composite wrapping

A reinforced support piling comprising:

• a non-hollow elongate shaft having a length and an exterior surface extending along said length;
• and
• a composite wrapping, said composite wrapping encircling said exterior surface along at least a portion of said length, said composite wrapping forming a layer of substantially uniform thickness and materials;
• wherein said composite wrapping applies a radial compressive force upon said elongate shaft.

A reinforced support pole comprising:

• a non-hollow elongate shaft, said non-hollow elongate shaft having a length, an exterior surface extending along said length, and a first stiffness;
• and
• a composite wrapping, said composite wrapping encircling said exterior surface along at least a portion of said length;
• wherein said reinforced support pole has a second stiffness, said second stiffness being at least 20 percent greater than said first stiffness.

A method for reinforcing a wood support piling with a composite wrapping, said method comprising:

• (A) selecting said wood support piling having a moisture content within a range of 15 to 20 percent;
• (B) placing said wood support piling on a filament winding apparatus;
• (C) applying a resin to a multiple-tow bundle of fibers by passing said multiple-tow bundle of fibers through an impregnator, said impregnator comprising a resin bath, rollers, and doctor blades;
• (D) rotating said wood support piling;
• (E) winding said multiple-tow bundle of fibers about said wood support piling and applying tension to said plurality of strands during said winding such that said tension becomes applies to said wood support piling, and maintaining said fibers under tension within a range of 30-120 pounds, said multiple-tow bundle of fibers being wound about said wood support piling at an angle within a range of 60-90 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the wood support piling;
• (F) undertaking parts (C) to (E) above in a manner sufficient to form said composite wrapping of a filament-wound fiber-reinforced bonding agent;
• (G) allowing said resin to cure wherein said composite wrapping is bonded to said wood support piling with a mechanical bond;
• wherein the bundle of fibers comprises twelve tow strands;
• wherein said wood piling is at least 10 feet long;
• wherein said composite wrapping covers a portion of said wood support piling adapted to reside two feet below ground surface and four feet above ground surface when the wood support piling is installed in the ground;
• wherein the curing of said composite wrapping causes said composite wrapping to shrink to thereby radially compress said wood support piling;
• wherein said reinforced support piling has a second stiffness, said second stiffness being at least 35 percent greater than a first stiffness of said wood support piling without said composite wrapping;
• wherein said composite wrapping forms a layer of substantially uniform thickness;
• and
• wherein said composite wrapping is a single, seamless layer.