Application of a modular polycarbonate and GRP beam system for enhanced wind resistance in low-cost greenhouse construction

• A new greenhouse structure was designed for vegetable production. • The installation of the greenhouse is easy and environmentally friendly. • Structure materials without biological and chemical damage to the plant cover. • Portable greenhouse was constructed with GRP rods and newly developed SP3 module. • GRP is a high mechanical strength glass-fiber with plastic. Modern agricultural practices frequently involve controlling critical growth parameters, including humidity, temperature, and light exposure. Before selecting the proper growth system, some variables must be considered, such as the properties of the place where products are grown, environmental factors, the equipment used, and the workforce. Besides being easily installable, the plastic material applied in the greenhouse construction does not pose any chemical threat to the plant cover. The modular system, constructed from glass-fiber reinforced polyester (GRP) rods, showed superior wind resistance and ease of installation, improving vegetable production in adverse climates. According to the results, the GRP rod with a mean of 6.730 kN was the most durable material. The test results also showed that the beam system (0.993 kN) and the SP3 module (0.920 kN) were very similar regarding the durability of materials. The greatest results in terms of resistance duration were found in the beam system (26.50 s). This means 3 times more resistance for the connected materials of the greenhouse. In addition, the GRP material is 86.84 % lighter than traditional galvanized iron-framed systems. According to the results of the study, the low specific gravity of the polymer (1.2 g.cm -3 ) as compared to the weight of the galvanized iron (7 g.cm -3 ) provides a significant reduction in the loads in the greenhouse, and this, in turn, reduces the shear force in the columns caused by the dynamic load (wind load). This study used a newly developed SP3 module and GRP rods to build a portable greenhouse.