“Are you suggesting you can replace the steel super-structure in even a 50 story bldg with laminate?”
Potentially, yes. PROBABLY not. It is more of a function of cost of one material versus another. I made the ridiculus statement in another post that you could build a 50 story building out of Kevlar or graphite and titanium. However, it would be way too expensive.
Actually, there have been prototype beams built with laminated veneer lumber, with graphite/Kevlar sandwiched between the veneers of wood. Adirondack baseball bat company tried this to keep baseball bats from breaking and becoming dangerous flying objects at your local MLB park. The same thing could be applied to give additional tensile strength to a beam that is 70’ long.
I think we're on the same page. And as you noted in your most recent reply to CC, there are "new" building material becoming "standard" on a regular basis.
My concern (and yours too I assume) with articles such as this, is that we'll move from govt funding to forced govt mandates - ala the incandescent light bulb.
Like other ideas, laminates - in all their flavors - will be used more and more as the market approves their worth. Just keep the d@mn govt out of it...