Increasing focus and emphasis on the sustainability of existing infrastructure, increased safety requirements, and deterioration due to environmental effects require existing reinforced concrete structures such as bridges to be strengthened. the bridge may require restoration and retrofit due to upgrading of design standards, increased safety requirements, change in its function, loads can increase or higher building standards become required and the structure must be made compliant. Many causes determine the appearance of damage in concrete bridges.
Causes of Bridge Deterioration
- Corrosion of the structure
- Increase in traffic flows and weight of vehicles, especially their axle loads, compared to the period when the bridges have been designed and constructed
- Harmful influence of environmental pollution
- Wring application of de-icing agents
- Low-quality structural materials as well as bridge equipment elements, such as expansion joints, waterproofing membranes, etc.
- Limited maintenance program or insufficient standard of maintenance
- Environmental factors
- Visual cracks and deformation in the reinforced and pre-tensioned elements
In such scenarios appropriate method and material is a prerequisite to regaining their structural strength. Bridge rehabilitation covers many complex engineering problems as well as economical ones. Moreover, in the recent few years, many modern rehabilitation methods and nonconventional material solutions to improve the durability of bridge structures have been developed. One such method is Carbon fiber wrap technology. It uses carbon fiber fabrics on the surface of the concrete to form a composite that works in coordination with concrete to strengthen the component structure and improve its mechanical performance.
With the right carbon fiber polymer applied, your structures can become stronger and installation requires much less time and the cost to install is but a fraction compared to traditionally adding more cement and steel reinforcement. Carbon fiber solutions include reinforcement, wraps, sheets, and other composite materials designed to strengthen columns, beams, slabs, and other important structural elements. In addition, it lasts longer and offers a non-invasive way to reinforce without changing the look or exterior features of the structure. Unlike traditional retrofit or reconstruction techniques, carbon wrap goes right over the existing substrate. This minimizes disruption during repair and saves significantly on installation time and costs. The carbon wrap technology utilizes carbon fiber that has very high tensile strength and is also very lightweight. When bonded to the exterior of a concrete column, beam, or slab, it can add significant strength without adding weight that would increase the load on foundations and other structural members.
Relinforce™ product lines can be used to rehabilitate and strengthen the damaged or deficient concrete structures to take the designed loads with the use of carbon wrap technology. Relinforce™ system comprises high-strength carbon fabric fully saturated with an appropriate resin system to provide required additional strength to any damaged structure
Advantages of Relinforce™ Carbon Fibre Wrapping
Relinforce™ just doesn’t repair degraded structures, but it makes the structures stronger even against harmful effects of seismic forces or further corrosion. Unlike traditional retrofit or reconstruction techniques that require demolition and reconstruction of part or whole failing structures, Carbon wrap goes right over the existing substrate, minimizing disruption during repair and saving significantly on installation time and costs. Its features include;
- High strength with low weight
- Minimal change to structure’s shape, weight or appearance
- Corrosion resistance
- Thermal compatibility
- Flexible wrap allows tailoring to the desired shape
- Excellent fatigue behaviour
- Faster repair than conventional methods
- Welding and heavy equipment are not needed
- Minimal disruption and noise during preparation or installation
- Low total cost
Carbon fiber wrapping provides significant strength to structures and protects against further corrosion and erosion. The impervious material will protect a structure from moisture intrusion and further corrosion. There are many reasons for strengthening a structure, such as decreased performance due to fatigue, a change of use, increased loading or required modifications. The carbon fibre wrapping can be applied in single or multiple layers depending on the level of strengthening or increased structural capacity to be achieved. The selection of the right composite becomes pivotal in carbon wrapping, take the advice of the experts in this regard.
About Relinforce™ Carbon wrap & Glass Fiber-reinforced polymer products
Relinforce™ range of Carbon wrap & Glass Fiber-reinforced polymer products are manufactured and supplied under Reliance India’s Composites Solution Division. Reliance Industries Limited is India’s largest private and one of the most profitable private sector companies and the first Indian Fortune 500 company. The company’s operations include designing, manufacturing, commissioning and marketing state-of-the-art composite solutions. Their wide range of products from standard shapes to the most challenging solutions, including custom fabrication and installation that can cater to the emerging needs of various industrial segments.
To know more about the product, visit- https://www.reliancecomposites.com/
