Spacer Sheet Reinforcement Wrap for Structural Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Structural support components like columns, piles, and pipes face corrosion and damage from various sources, requiring a cost-effective and efficient method for reinforcement and repair that can withstand static and dynamic loads without needing expensive underwater or complex procedures.
Innovation Solution
The method involves wrapping multiple layers of reinforcement material, such as Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) sheets saturated with resin, around a spacer sheet to form an external shell, which is then filled with concrete or grout, providing additional strength and protection against corrosion, and can be applied to structures of various shapes and sizes, including those inaccessible or underwater.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional reinforcement methods are used, then structural strength can be improved, but the cost and complexity of the procedure increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement system is divided into separate functional layers: a flexible spacer sheet that maintains distance from the structure, and a separate reinforcement material layer that provides structural strength. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function optimally while simplifying the overall application process.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a flexible spacer sheet and thin reinforcement material layers that can be easily wrapped around structures of various shapes and sizes. This flexibility eliminates the need for complex rigid forms and makes the reinforcement process simpler and more adaptable to different structural configurations.
2Reliability
If access to the structure is required for reinforcement, then reinforcement quality can be ensured, but the cost and feasibility decreases for inaccessible locations
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement material and spacer sheet are designed to be self-adhering and self-supporting during application. The spacer sheet maintains its shape and position without requiring external forms or support structures, allowing the system to be applied to inaccessible locations such as underwater structures without requiring complex access equipment or procedures.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If thick reinforcement layers are applied, then corrosion protection is improved, but the weight and material cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention achieves effective corrosion protection through thin films of reinforcement material applied in multiple layers. The flexible spacer sheet enables uniform distribution of these thin layers, providing adequate corrosion protection without requiring thick, heavy reinforcement sections. This thin-film approach significantly reduces the added weight compared to traditional thick reinforcement methods.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and an article of manufacture are disclosed for externally reinforcing various solid structures, such as columns, poles, piles, beams, pipes and the like, constructed from various materials. Multiple sheets laminated together with resin and grout constitutes a structure reinforcement wrap (SRW) for the formation of an external reinforcement shell. The multiple layers include a spacer sheet, a reinforcement sheet, such as Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) saturated with resin. The spacer sheet creates a small, substantially planar space between the spacer sheet and the solid structure, which space may be filled with concrete, grout, epoxy, or other similar reinforcing material. In various embodiments, a surface groove is created in the solid structure and a reinforcing bar (rebar) is embedded in the groove to further structurally bond the solid structure to the reinforcing material poured in the planar space created by the spacer sheet.