3D Fabric Wrap Reinforcement for Buried Infrastructure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for reinforcing structures, such as pipes and culverts, are costly and inefficient due to limitations in providing adequate ring stiffness and resistance to corrosion, especially in buried infrastructure exposed to traffic and soil loads, and require elaborate support systems for application.
Innovation Solution
A structure reinforcement wrap (SRW) method using multiple layers of 3D fabric and reinforcement sheets, including fiber-reinforced polymers, laminated with resin to enhance stiffness and resistance to external and internal loads, which can be applied without excavating the structure, providing a cost-effective and durable solution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional reinforcement methods are used, then structural strength can be improved, but the cost increases and the process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies flexible reinforcement wraps made of fiber-reinforced polymer sheets that can be wrapped around existing structures like pipes and culverts. These thin film reinforcements provide the necessary structural strength without requiring elaborate support systems, eliminating the need for complex temporary shoring and bracing that traditional methods would require.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials consisting of fiber-reinforced polymer sheets combined with adhesive systems. This composite approach provides high structural strength-to-weight ratio, allowing the reinforcement to be applied without complex support structures while maintaining or enhancing the structural integrity of the reinforced element.
2Strength
If traditional reinforcement methods are used, then structural strength can be improved, but the application cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible wrap system eliminates the need for expensive temporary support structures, formwork, and heavy equipment required by traditional concrete jacketing or steel reinforcement methods. The wrap can be applied directly to the structure in a straightforward wrapping process, significantly reducing labor and material costs while providing the necessary ring stiffness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and properties of the reinforcement material by using fiber-reinforced polymers that can be supplied in roll-form and cured in place. This parameter change from rigid pre-formed reinforcement to flexible curable material allows for simpler application procedures and reduced installation costs while achieving the required structural performance.
3Reliability
If traditional reinforcement methods are used, then corrosion resistance can be improved, but the application process becomes more time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The fiber-reinforced polymer wrap provides inherent corrosion resistance as a thin protective layer that can be applied quickly without the lengthy curing times required for concrete coatings or the complex installation procedures for metallic reinforcements. The wrap system eliminates the need for multiple application stages and extended drying times.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement wraps are supplied pre-impregnated with adhesive in a roll-form, eliminating the need for separate surface preparation, adhesive application, and curing stages required by traditional methods. This preliminary preparation allows for immediate wrapping and faster structural rehabilitation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and an article of manufacture are disclosed for reinforcing various structures, such as pipes, ducts, vessels, tanks, silos, chimneys, columns and the like, constructed from various materials including steel, concrete, masonry, wood, plastics, and the like. Some of the various structures may be used to transport water, gas, oil, and the like. Multiple layers of various material sheets, each sheet having substantially the same or different properties, may be wrapped around or be attached to the inside of a structure to be reinforced. The multiple layers together constitute a structure reinforcement wrap (SRW) and in an embodiment it may include a 3D fabric layer surrounded by other reinforcement layers to reinforce the structure against external and internal loads, such as weight, impact load, blast load, internal pressure, ballistic load, and the like. In some embodiment the SRW may only include 3D fabric layers.