Innovative Uses of Carbon Fiber Reinforcement

Carbon fiber reinforcement is an important process in many ways today. Since living in buildings that are not resistant to earthquakes endangers life, the building needs to be reinforced. This building is made resilient through legal arrangements after it is determined by the authorities to be unstable against earthquakes. One of the processes used to make it durable is carbon fiber reinforcement. This process of strengthening structural elements against earthquakes is comprehensive. It is therefore necessary to consider separately what this empowerment means, its application areas and its advantages.

What is Carbon Fiber Reinforcement?

Carbon fiber reinforcement is a process referred to in English as ‘Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers’, also known as CFRP or FRP. This is done to strengthen reinforced concrete, wood and masonry structures. As it is an externally applied retrofitting system, it is particularly relevant in earthquake protection or restoration processes.

Fiber-reinforced polymer resin means that it is a composite material. Accordingly, CFRP is a reinforcement system that can be applied for stone, wood, steel and all structural elements. This system applied in structures and structural elements provides advantages in many aspects. In addition, since it is a light and flexible material, it does not cause excessive weight in the structure. In this regard, it is important how carbon fiber reinforcement is performed and what are the application areas.

How is it done?

Carbon fiber reinforcement is made with some materials within certain processes. First of all, this building reinforcement system should be done by experts. In this process, carbon fiber products are adhered to the surfaces of the structure or structural elements with epoxy.

Epoxies are integral to these materials, playing an important role in the production of carbon fiber products. Carbon fibers are used in various industries as they have superior properties such as durability and lightness. The location and types of these carbon fibers vary, determining the choice of epoxy resins. It is the professional static bureau officials who provide and make these retrofitting solutions. Therefore, not every person in every building sector can be involved in this retrofitting system service.

What are the Application Areas of Carbon Fiber Reinforcement?

Carbon fiber reinforcement system is a process that has been used recently. This applies to many fields of application. Since it is a building retrofitting system, it basically covers reinforced concrete structures. However, it is not limited only to these, but also to different applications. The application areas of this strengthening process are generally as follows:

Reinforced concrete columns and beams
Reinforced concrete walls
Industrial roofs
Steel pipes
Tunnels
Pipes
Roofs
Wooden beams and columns
Multi-storey parking garage
Villa, apartment, flat
Coastal structures
Brick walls
Industrial plant
Bridge
Coastal and offshore structures
Steel and concrete tanks
Signs
Connection elements
Obsolete structures

In general, it covers both residential, industrial and historical buildings. Carbon fiber, which has recently come to the fore with its use and advantages, has created this reinforcement system. Carbon fiber reinforcement, which has an important place in modern technology, aims to improve people’s living and working spaces.

How is CFRP Applied?

How CFRP, or carbon fiber reinforcement, should be applied requires specific processes. This process, which requires expertise, is carried out by applying carbon fiber fabric to the wall in stages. In general, the construction of this reinforcement is as follows:

After determining the concrete surface to be applied, the surface should be cleaned by removing dust.
CFRP wraps to be adhered to the concrete surface should be cut and shaped according to the application concrete area.
Gaps in the concrete surface need to be sealed to create a flat surface.
After the concrete is cleaned and made into a flat surface, primer should be applied on the surface.
After drying, apply 1 layer of epoxy on it.
Then CFRP wraps should be adhered to the epoxy surface. After applying 1 layer of epoxy on it, it should be done separately for each layer.
After applying CFRP wrap on the last layer, epoxy should be applied on it. Immediately afterwards, the process is completed by throwing silica sand on it.

The implementation of this reinforcement is superficially realized in these steps. CFRP application is done with the right materials and by professionals to achieve the desired results. This ensures a durable structure.

What are the Advantages?

Carbon fiber reinforcement is a system that stands out with its advantages. Carbon fiber material is a very useful and advantageous material on its own. This material, which attracts attention with its high strength despite its light weight, is used in the reinforcement of structures. The advantages of this reinforcement application, which plays an important role for the robustness of buildings, are as follows:

It is made in a way that does not prevent the use of buildings. In this case, houses, bridges, roofs, etc. are used when restoring places.
Carbon fiber polymers provide a reinforcement in the brick walls to which they are applied. In this way, it reduces the effect of shaking during an earthquake and provides a rigid stance.
As it is quick and simple to implement, no special costly equipment is required.
It offers an economical renovation and retrofitting project. Therefore, contrary to popular belief, not much cost is required.
Carbon fiber, which is a special substance in terms of its chemical properties, does not require maintenance.
It has flexible characteristics as it can be applied to many areas.
As it is applied with quality control and assurance systems, the structure and structural elements are professionally reinforced.
In case of post-tensioning application, deflections are eliminated and their increase is prevented.
Carbon fiber is inherently rustproof, which means it does not generate magnetic fields.
It increases the durability of the structure used by strengthening the building element and material.
Since it does not require maintenance, it does not create any extra workload during application.
Depending on the intended use, it increases the axial load carrying capacity. This strengthens flexural and shear strengths, increases durability and improves flexibility.

Building Reinforcement with Carbon Fiber

Building reinforcement with carbon fiber is a technological and new generation technique. The carbon fiber fabric used in this application has a thin appearance like a shirt fabric. However, despite this thinness and lightness, it is one of the strongest materials in the world. When this fabric is cut with scissors and applied to the walls, it solidifies like a plate and becomes durable.

Even withstanding a 7.5 magnitude earthquake, carbon fiber reinforcement has a great impact. This is because brick walls gain a strong structure with carbon fiber polymers. On the other hand, carbon fiber construction is an easily applied material. When used on walls, this material is covered with plaster or drywall from the outside. Thus, the normal wall appearance is ensured and there is no scar or protrusion appearance.

How to Reinforce Carbon Fiber Columns?

Carbon fiber is a material that also plays a major role in strengthening reinforced concrete columns. In column reinforcement application, the process is started by determining the condition of the old structure. Carbon fiber is designed according to the size and shape of the column. After the number and placement of the layers are determined, it starts to be applied to the structure by experts.

The surface is cleaned immediately before the application of carbon fiber reinforcement for the column. Carbon fiber sheets are adhered to the column surface with epoxy. After it is glued, compression is applied and it is expected to dry. Plaster or plastering is applied on the dried and hardened column surface. Staining may also be preferred according to the previous state of the column. In general, carbon fiber column reinforcement is similar to the treatment of other reinforced concrete surfaces. Although the same materials are used, the column size and shape are taken into consideration. In summary, this material makes it possible to strengthen columns and structures and make them more resistant to earthquakes.