Mat assembly used in construction and mat assembly construction and repair methods used in construction

The mat assembly 10 used in construction includes a plurality of pleated plates 22 disposed between at least some of the plastic beams to provide additional strength and stiffness to the mat， and a plurality of composite beams ( 20). Plastic beams can be made of a composite material with a generally rectangular cross section. The pleat plate has a width (vertical height) when placed between adjacent beams that is less than the width of the beam (vertical height)， so that the pleat plate can be concave above and below the top (12) and bottom (14) surfaces of the mat， respectively. have. A number of rods 24 extend laterally through the beam and plate to compress the beam and plate for each. The pleated plate may be a metal or fiber reinforced resin， and includes a slotted hole 28 to cause the beam to contract longitudinally in response to environmental changes. A method of constructing or repairing a composite mat is also disclosed. A mat assembly (10) for use in construction comprises a plurality of composite plastic beams (20) that are ganged together to define the mat， with a plurality of flitch plates (22) disposed between at least some of the plastic beams to provide additional strength and rigidity to the mat. The plastic beams may be made of a composite material have a generally rectangular cross-section. The flitch plates have a width (vertical height) when disposed between adjacent beams that is less than the width (vertical height) of the beams， such that the flitch plates may be recessed below and above the top (12) and bottom (14) surfaces of the mat， respectively. A plurality of rods (24) extend in the lateral direction through the beams and plates to compress the beams and plates against each. The flitch plates may be metal or fiber-reinforced resin and may further include slotted holes (28) to allow the beams to retract lengthwise in response to environmental changes. A method of constructing or repairing a composite mat is also disclosed. A mat assembly (10) for use in construction comprises a plurality of composite plastic beams (20) that are ganged together to define the mat， with a plurality of flitch plates (22) disposed between at least some of the plastic beams to provide additional strength and rigidity to the mat. The plastic beams may be made of a composite material have a generally rectangular cross-section. The flitch plates have a width (vertical height) when disposed between adjacent beams that is less than the width (vertical height) of the beams， such that the flitch plates may be recessed below and above the top (12) and bottom (14) surfaces of the mat， respectively. A plurality of rods (24) extend in the lateral direction through the beams and plates to compress the beams and plates against each. The flitch plates may be metal or fiber-reinforced resin and may further include slotted holes (28) to allow the beams to retract lengthwise in response to environmental changes. A method of constructing or repairing a composite mat is also disclosed.