Building a solar panel support structure with wood/fiberglass /epoxy

[TeddyDiver]

I see your point about bad engineering being a major factor. Materials matter, but poor design or execution can lead to failure regardless. The thread you linked is a good example—did you have a specific takeaway from it?

Just the fact whatever the material, it needs to be engineered right as minimum. Over engineered has only weight penalty, maybe price too when using "excotic" materials. Anyways as most boats have composite (as cored) decks, it needs more to account but only the arch. Thus composite arches can distribute the loads more evenly to boat structure.

 

[groper]

Crossbeams to support our entire 4m x 2.6m solar array . Made from 20mm pvc foam , hollow inside , foam bulkheads every 300mm to maintain. Dimensional stability .
Will be laminated over with a thin skin of carbon fiber however it could also be fiberglass . We want more stiffness and also the clear carbon aesthetic look so went for carbon over glass.