Carbon fiber fabric and pultruded carbon fiber strip (or laminate) have been popularly applied in the construction reinforcement because of its obvious function and easy application. The carbon fiber was initially used by the military and aerospace, as the production technology evolves, the price has become affordable and the carbon fiber is being applied more and more in different industries, one of which is construction reinforcement. It has been proved such an effective and reliable solution to the structural strengthening. Compared to traditional reinforcement methods like enlarge cross section, steel bonding, cfrp reinforcement is much more convenient to operate and transport, meanwhile it also saves project time and labour.
Project cost is a big concerned problem for both the owner and construction company. Carbon fiber materials are much more expensive than other traditional materials and advanced FRP materials. But carbon fiber can help save maintenance cost in the long run compared with traditional materials. It’s much stronger than other materials. But there’re some critical points which should be taken care of during application.
- professional design to solve certain construction problems, increase shear strength, flexural strength, loading strength and others will require different wrapping ways
- repair substrate properly before CFRP wrap, including stop leak, replace or clean the rusty steel rebar, remove the aged concrete, finally have a sound substrate and clean surface
- saturate the CFRP thoroughly with resin, no air bubble trapped in the fiber-resin matrix to result in a strong bonding between the CFRP and substrate
- UV protection coat and fire proof coat should be done if necessary