Fiber sheet for reinforcing concrete structures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for reinforcing concrete structures with FRP (Fiber Reinforced Plastic) face challenges in achieving high tensile strength while maintaining substrate visibility, as they often require removing parts of the reinforcing layer for inspection, which compromises structural integrity.

Innovation Solution

A fiber sheet comprising a multi-axial mesh sheet with a base weight of 500 g/m2 to 1000 g/m2 integrated with a matrix resin, ensuring both high tensile strength and visibility, achieved by impregnating the resin into the mesh sheet and curing it using heat or active energy ray treatment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional FRP reinforcing methods using opaque resin and sheet materials are applied, then high tensile strength is achieved, but substrate visibility is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetensile strengthVSAvoidsubstrate visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the optical parameters of the resin by selecting materials with appropriate refractive indices (difference of 0.05 or less) and controlling transparency. This allows the resin to become visually compatible with the glass fibers, creating a transparent or translucent FRP that maintains both strength and visibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite material system consisting of glass fibers (transparent) embedded in a transparent or translucent resin matrix. This composite structure maintains the high tensile strength provided by the fibers while allowing light transmission for substrate visibility, unlike conventional opaque resin composites

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Illumination intensity

If inspection windows are formed on conventional reinforced structures, then substrate visibility is improved, but structural strength decreases and deterioration occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubstrate visibilityVSAvoidstructural strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the need for inspection windows entirely by making the entire reinforcing layer transparent or translucent. Instead of removing portions of the reinforcing layer to create windows, the whole structure becomes visible, eliminating the weakness points that would be created by removal

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of making the reinforcing layer opaque and creating openings for visibility, the patent inverts the approach by making the reinforcing layer itself transparent. This reverses the conventional logic and allows visibility without compromising structural integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides a reinforcing method that maintains high substrate visibility and achieves sufficient tensile strength, comparable to conventional carbon or aramid fiber sheets, while preventing structural deterioration and allowing for effective inspection.

Implementation Method 1

curing it using heat or active energy ray treatment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCuring: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentUS11933059B2Fiber sheet for reinforcing concrete structures
Publication Date: 2024.03.19 DENKA CO LTD

AI summary

A method for reinforcing a concrete structure so as to have high substrate visibility and sufficient reinforcing performance. A fiber sheet for reinforcing a concrete structure, the sheet including: a framework in which a filament-based, multi-axial mesh sheet and a matrix resin are integrated, wherein the multi-axial mesh sheet has a base weight amount in a range of 500 g/m2 to 1000 g/m2.