Concrete Strengthening
Composites have been used to strengthen structural concrete in the United States for almost 25 years. During this period, acceptance of composites as a mainstream construction material has grown, and so has the number of completed composites strengthening projects. As a result, the use of composites for strengthening and retrofit is gaining more popularity among design professionals over conventional strengthening techniques, such as installation of supplemental structural steel frames and elements.
Properties and Benefits
- Ability to manufacture onsite
- Economically increase capacity without significant weight or mass
- Extremely high tensile strength
- Lightweight and user-friendly installation
- Non-corrosive
- Low aesthetic impact
- Compatible with many finishes and protective coatings
Applications and Products
Structures
- Buildings
- Bridges
- Tanks/Silos
- Parking structures
- Piers and wharfs
- Underwater structures
- Tunnels
- Pipes
- Columns
- Beams
- Slabs
- Walls
- Piles
- Pier caps
Seismic Retrofit
- Shear strengthening
- Displacement/ductility
- Life safety
Damage Repair
- Deterioration/corrosion
- Blast/vehicle impact
Defect Remediation
- Size/layout errors
- Low concrete strengths
Load Rating Upgrade
- Increased live loads
- New equipment
- Change of use
Blast Mitigation
- Hardening
- Progressive collapse