Should have said...a "sheet" of fiberglass cloth
Moving on...
Why is fiberglass strong?
Well...FWIU...glass fibers are really strong, when loaded "in tension" (when the ends of a strand are pulled upon)
...but, they flex & bend quite easily
...&/so, they don't provide much strength when "in compression" (when the ends of a strand are being pushed together)
But
When glass fibers are saturated with "glue"
...& then, "glued" together
...those individual fibers "act as a whole"
...creating a really stiff & strong material
Got ALL of that
...glass fibers...strong (but, only in 1 direction)
...glued together=really strong (in many directions)
OK...now try-n-imagine that...
...got nuthin'?...me too
Now, let's try the
kinda like concept (again)
Think about...um...lets say...something like...fishing line
Most folks are familiar with regular 'ol fishing line (yup, for catching fish)
...& know its flexible
...& also, strong "in tension" (like fiberglass strands or fibers)
So, yea fishing line
...is "kinda like" or has "like characteristics" of fiberglass strands
Next, imagine, "if" someone was to lay out hundreds of "strands" of fishing line
...& "glue" 'em together
...into a fiberglass like cloth
Now, can ya "see" or imagine how the "resulting" material (fishing line & glue) would now be
...very strong
...super stiff (no longer flexible or bendy)
...& now also, very strong in both tension & compression too
