Structural Strengthening

Refurbishment and the change of use of structures and buildings often introduce greater applied loads or changes in the design load path. Structural strengthening is also often required as structures deteriorate over time due to corrosion of metallic, timber or concrete elements.

Modern strengthening methods use proven materials that offer less creep and elongation than steel and are less obtrusive, being thinner and lighter, yet offering up to ten times the tensile strength capacity of steel.

Strengthening methods include:

• Use of carbon fibre, aramid or glass fibre fabrics such as the MBrace System by BASF or the Carbodur range by Sika
• Use of carbon fibre laminates
• Increasing tensile strength characteristics on structures such as bridges, wharves, car park floor slabs, silos etc. using a combination of conventional and externally bonded fibre reinforcement systems
• Reinforcement of areas where penetrations are to be made through existing floor slabs for example to install new stairs, escalators or the like
• Plate bonding systems whereby steel plates are bonded to existing structures using epoxy adhesives