FIRE-RESISTANT SEALING OF UTILITIES

The technology of strengthening columns by external carbon-fibre reinforcement is not a standalone operation. It is part of a set of works including diagnostics and repair by injection or other types of repair work.

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Structural reinforcement is distinguished as:

  • along the horizontal section with tapes or fabrics of unidirectional or bidirectional weave at a certain pitch over the entire height;
  • vertically, resting on the rounding or chamfer at the corners of the column;
  • binding the column head in a direction perpendicular and at 45° relative to the direction of the destructive force;
  • combined reinforcement.

The choice of the type of carbon tape or carbon-fibre lamella depends on the analysis of the destructive forces, factors or degree of failure. The direction of the fibres must counteract these loads.

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The main stages of the work:

  1. Identifying the destructive factors and drawing up a damage map. It is advisable to unload the column and install additional supports.
  2. Determining the scheme for repairing and strengthening the column. The scheme includes the entire set of measures envisaged for repairing the column (cleaning, opening cracks up to 0.3 mm wide, injection cracks up to 5 mm, opening up significant damage with cleaning of the repair zone and reinforcement from dust and rust, priming, and filling with a repair compound).
  3. Chamfering or rounding the corners of the column, levelling, cleaning the entire surface of the column and priming. Rounding avoids stresses that are perpendicular to the fibre direction, i.e. to the maximum load-bearing capacity of the carbon fibre.
  4. Applying epoxy adhesive, laying and rolling the fabric, tape or lamella. If the column is unloaded, a layer of carbon fibre is laid on the upper plane of the column head. The number of layers is not strictly regulated and is determined by the reinforcement scheme.
  5. After the epoxy resin has polymerized, finishing work is carried out (if necessary).

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The work is carried out at an air and column-body temperature of not less than +5 °C and at the column surface humidity

Advantages of the method of strengthening columns using external carbon-fibre reinforcement:

  • The geometric shape of the column does not change.
  • Reinforcement does not affect the weight of the column.
  • No welding work is required to bind the column with metal reinforcing elements.
  • No stopping of production or technological cycles is required.
  • Minimal work completion times.
  • The reinforcement technology, combined with a set of repair works, makes it possible to restore the column's load-bearing capacity by at least 90%.

Repair and reinforcement of load-bearing structures is carried out only by specialized organizations that can analyse and calculate the structure in accordance with building-code requirements for civil and industrial construction. All stages of work with load-bearing structures are documented. On completion, the client signs an acceptance certificate, which is mandatory for the package of technical documentation permitting fault-free operation of the construction facility.