Well, here are the eight contestants for our floor bottom beef-up. Lots of hammering and rock hurling went into this careful scientific analysis.
And the winner is…
#2.
A layer of biaxial cloth, covered by a layer of Xynole, whatever that is, and covered with a layer of 4-ounce glass to make it easy to finish. All laid up with Resin Research 2040.
Number 2 looks a little worse for the wear, but that’s because it went though the semi-finals and finals. It held up remarkably to some serious abuse, failing well after we thought it would. The runner-up was #8, which was this same lay-up with a layer of Core Mat beneath the biaxial. It was the toughest of all but the additional weight and expense did not seem worth the marginal increase in toughness.
A few of the others flunked outright. Such as numbers 4 and 5 here, which are two different weights of Core Mat with Xynole and 4-ounce glass. The Core Mat just collapses without a biaxial covering. So there you have it. Losers!!!
Interesting research, Bradford. Please explain your method of inflicting carnage, so I can replicate your study with the layup of my new boat. 1" plascore; inside: 9 oz biaxial glass, 4 oz plain weave; outside: 9 oz biaxial glass, 9 oz biaxial kevlar, 4 oz plain weave, all laid up with RAKA 127 resin. I was able to get the kevlar for 15/yd, half off. It's a heavy layup, but hopefully bomber.
It is pretty technical. Make a mockup sample. Lay it on the ground and try to stab it with an awl; whack it mightily with the claw of a straight claw hammer. And the face of the hammer. And a sledge hammer. Try these with the sample bridged between a couple bricks or something to see how the full layup reacts. Then throw a huge boulder on it. Then subject to detailed analysis. I bet yours does very well indeed.
Initial results are in:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1PkJAEGoSw&feature=colike