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Once a crack develops, moisture is able to get to the reinforcing steel and corrosion begins. As the corrosion progresses it worsens the condition of the concrete around the affected area, compromising the structural integrity of the component.
Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer can be used to remedy a problem injection or to reinforce a crack repair to provide peace of mind that it will not re-open. In addition to the strength properties provided by SRS-660BI, waterproofing capabilities are another benefit to its use.
From bridges and parking garages to foundations and retaining walls, Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP), has been relied upon for the strengthening of concrete infrastructure under the most extreme conditions.
BENIFITS
•STRUCTURALLY REINFORCES CRACKS
•LOW AESTHETIC IMPACT (CAN BE PAINTED)
•LESS THAN 1/8" THICK
•CONFORMS TO STRUCTURE
•195,000 PSI TENSILE STRENGTH
•HELPS PREVENT WATER INTRUSION
A cracked foundation indicates underlying structural damage, especially if you notice the crack widening or growing over time. The most common signs of failure in stem walls often include horizontal cracks, caused from oxidized rebar expansion or rusting. This oxidization often causes horizontal foundation cracks on this type of stem wall foundation construction. These small cracks will grow, and could become a structural issue.
Bidirectional carbon fibre provides permanent reinforcement of cracks in deteriorated foundation stem walls. Once a crack develops and moistures is able to get to the reinforcing steel, corrosion begins. As the corrosion progresses it worsens the condition of the concrete around the reinforcing steel.
In order to repair these areas, the deteriorated concrete needs to be removed and the rebar corrosion needs to be addressed. Once the corroded rebar is addressed, the concrete can be repaired. If the corrosion process is not completely stopped, over time, the expansion of the steel can cause the patch to fail.
Carbon fibre can be a very effective means to reinforce, stabilize, and repair damaged or deteriorated retaining walls. In order to effectively stop movement in a retaining wall, “restraint” has to be provided. For instance, if a wall is tipping and carbon fibre straps are added, the wall could still continue to tip but would do so as one reinforced section.
Restraint is provided by wall tiebacks or anchors that are incorporated into the repair by holding back the top of the wall. This allows the carbon fibre to resist any movement between the tiebacks and the backfill, restraining the base of the wall.
In instances where there is movement both vertically and horizontally, a grid pattern of carbon fibre can be used to provide stabilization for the wall and to resist any additional movement. Commercial strength carbon fibre, bonded with structural epoxy adhesive forms an advanced composite strengthening system that provides over 35,000 lbs/sq ft of confinement strength over cracks. This application prevents cracks from spreading while reinstating capacity to the wall.
Concrete is great in compression but lacks the tensile properties necessary so is usually poured with steel rebar embedded in it. This rebar provides the necessary tensile requirements so that the concrete can perform for the intended application. If this rebar is missing, damaged, or deteriorated, carbon fibre can be added to an existing structure in order to increase the tensile capacities related to a specific load pattern.
When components have begun to deteriorate or when increased load carrying capacities are required, carbon fiber can be used to add additional tensile capacity to these components allowing them to carry greater loads.
Carbon fibre is a preferred method of repair for reinforced concrete columns and other structural components. These structural elements are constructed with rebar to provide the necessary tensile capacity for the intended loads. Wrapping columns horizontally with carbon fibre reinforced polymer will provide additional confining strength and added load carrying capacity. The columns can be coated in a wide range of UV protective finishes.
Foundation stem walls can experience a variety of failures. Often horizontal cracks appear which can be the result of the reinforcing steel being too close to the outer edge of the forms when the foundation is being poured. When the forms are stripped, and if the conditions of the steel being hot on the day of the pour, a fine micro crack appears.
The concrete around the steel also begins curing outwards meeting the normal curing of the concrete, curing from the outside towards the middle. These two curing areas form a micro crack. With seismic activity or foundation settlement, the foundation may bend slightly, causing the crack to open, most of the time exposing the steel to corrosion.
Commercial strength carbon fibre, bonded with structural epoxy adhesive forms an advanced composite strengthening system that provides over 35,000 lbs/sq ft of confinement strength over cracks. This application prevents cracks from spreading while reinstating capacity to the wall.
Low aesthetic impact. Can easily be painted or coated.
Any time there are changes to a structural component such as a slab or a wall, consideration has to be made for any rebar or tensioning cables that have to be cut. In most cases CFRP can be used to transfer the stress around the opening and back to the initial tensile carrying components. The two most popular places this is seen are in load bearing walls or structural slabs. In the case of a wall, typically the reinforcement would be needed on both sides of the wall as it will need to be strengthened as to not deflect in either direction.
The ultra thin profile of the reinforced composite can easily be installed around mechanical components that often prohibit traditional steel installations that are often invasive and heavy. Not only is carbon fiber 10x stronger than steel it's also significantly lighter. This is another distinct advantage when it comes to increasing the load capacity of structures without adding additional weight to it.
The use of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer, CFRP, in construction is on the rise. With the condition of the aging infrastructure around the country and the rising cost of building materials, it is typically more economical to repair or re-purpose structures rather than building new ones. CFRP can be used to increase the flexural and shear capacity of existing beams for increased loading.
In addition to the cost benefits of these type of repairs, strengthening with CFRP can typically be accomplished in a fraction of the time when compared to traditional strengthening or repair methods.
Let us develop a structural repair solution for your commercial property. West Coast Structural works closely with experienced engineers to implement specific repair plans that utilize the strongest man made materials in the world.
Concrete is great in compression but lacks the tensile properties necessary so is usually poured with steel rebar embedded in it. This rebar provides the necessary tensile requirements so that the concrete can perform for the intended application. If this rebar is missing, damaged, or deteriorated, carbon fibre can be added to an existing structure in order to increase the tensile capacities related to a specific load pattern.
When load bearing components have begun to deteriorate or when increased load carrying capacities are required, carbon fibre can be used to add additional tensile capacity to these components allowing them to carry greater loads.
With the increased demand to sustainably rehabilitate concrete infrastructure, carbon fiber has become the preferred method to strengthen damaged or deteriorated reinforced concrete columns. It can also be applied to enhance the structural performance of columns to meet required design codes. This un-invasive and sustainable approach helps avoid costly demolition and reconstruction of reinforced concrete columns.
Most concrete construction prior to 1977 is generally non-ductile concrete construction, meaning it lacks sufficient structural reinforcement to withstand lateral forces and sustain gravity loads during a seismic event. “Non-ductile” means brittle or inflexible; in other words, non-ductile concrete buildings are more likely to crumble or collapse in an earthquake, posing greater financial liability and life-safety risk. Carbon fiber has been proven to meet the needs of seismic retrofitting and strengthening of reinforced concrete columns and has become a preferred solution for this type of work.
Foundation walls fail for a number of reasons from lack of reinforcing steel to excessive loads due to expansive soils or excess ground water. Even with the appropriate amounts of reinforcing steel in place, where the walls are constructed properly, expansive clay soils can still cause bowing if the cores are not fully grouted.
The solution is Carbon Fiber Composite Straps that permanently secure and stabilize the basement wall against any further inward movement. The industrial strength adhesive epoxy penetrates deep into the pores of the concrete, while saturating the carbon fiber providing a permanent bond to the foundation.
While the SRS-600UNI composite strap exhibits a design tensile strength over 40,000 lbs, these straps are more than capable of resisting the soil pressures that are exhibited on most basement foundation walls. The question becomes, can the wall support itself between the straps. This is something the we will need to evaluate on a case by case basis.
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