Empa strengthens concrete buildings
Researchers at the Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt (Empa) have improved a technology in which concrete structures are stabilized with carbon fiber-reinforced plastic. Empa's pre-tensioned lamellas are now to be brought to market maturity.
Outdated concrete structures have long been reinforced with carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP), Empa explains in a press release . Empa researchers have now further developed this technology. Your CFRP lamellas can actively counteract the deflection of concrete beams.
To do this, the slats are glued to the beams with epoxy resin under tensile stress. After the connection has hardened, the tensile stress counteracts the deflection of the beams. The researchers have also improved the previous method for attaching the ends of the strips. Instead of glued and screwed aluminum plates, specially developed CFRP brackets are used.
"A solution made from a single material is always better than two that behave differently," Empa researcher Christoph Czaderski is quoted in the press release. “We made a lot of tests in the laboratory, especially for the anchoring.” According to the announcement, the new technology can increase the load-bearing capacity of a concrete slab by 77 percent compared to the classic method.
The next step is to bring the process to market maturity. To this end, Empa is working with S&P Clever Reinforcement Company in Seewen SZ as an industrial partner. An industrial process is currently being developed for the hangers that have previously been handcrafted, according to the announcement. Martin Hüppi believes the process is “justifiable in terms of price for building owners”. “I absolutely see a market for this,” explains the S&P project manager in the press release.