How Do Carbon Fiber Structural Repairs Work?
Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer or CFRP is the
strongest manmade material in the world and relies
upon every day by foundation repair professionals and
concrete repair specialists to reinforce, stabilize and
repair everything from civil infrastructure to residential
concrete foundations.
Heavy duty commercial grade carbon fiber fabric is saturated and permanently bonded to the concrete using a high strength structural epoxy resin.
Why Choose Carbon Fiber For My Structural Repair?
- Permanently stops structural cracks from spreading and helps prevent water intrusion
- Reestablishes broken corner ties where reinforcing steel is missing, failing or insufficient
- Ultra-thin profile – Can conform to and strengthen virtually any concrete shape or structure
- Can be painted or coated in virtually any finish to blend in with existing concrete
- 10X stronger than steel and will not corrode
- Non-invasive – Can be applied to the surface of the concrete without structural disturbance
How Does It Work?
Carbon Fiber can be used to reinforce cracked and damaged foundation walls by effectively restoring strength and stability. When Carbon Fiber is used for structural foundation repair and crack reinforcement, it is bonded with an epoxy resin over the damaged areas. This encapsulation provides over 35,000lbs of confinement strength, giving you peace of mind that the cracks will not reopen. Another added benefit is that it creates a waterproof barrier preventing moisture from re-entering the area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Carbon fiber itself has an indefinitely long lifespan and will essentially last forever and most likely outlast the
structure of the building itself.
Yes, extensive testing and long term durability studies have found carbon fiber reinforced concrete more durable
than standard concrete.
In interior applications the carbon fiber will be visible unless it is coated or painted. On exterior applications a thin
outline of the carbon fiber may still be visible after painting it despite its ultra low profile. This can be avoided by
using a higher build coating or cementitious product.
Any carbon fiber installation can be coated or painted as soon as the epoxy has hardened to the point that it is
dry or slightly tacky to the touch. Depending on the air temperature and environmental conditions, this can be
performed on the same day as the installation.
In any interior applications the carbon fiber can be left uncoated. However, the epoxy is sensitive to long-term
sunlight exposure. It is important to cover any exterior carbon fiber with a UV resistant finish to prevent long-term
damage from prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.
Carbon fiber is corrosion-resistant, chemically stable, and won’t rust. These characteristics make it an ideally suited material for harsh environments. Likewise, the epoxy resin will won’t rust or corrode.
The carbon fiber is backed by a 25-year manufacture’s warranty to guarantee that it will maintain its structural performance during that timespan.
Structural Reinforcement Solutions Carbon Fiber Strengthening Systems are made in
the USA and are designed, tested and engineered to the highest industry safety and
performance standards, and are backed by a fully transferable 25 year warranty.
Learn more by visiting Structuralrs.com
Any structural repair material can fail if it exceeds its designed loading limits. Even though carbon fiber is 10X
stronger than steel, its overall performance is dependant on it being installed correctly with extreme care given
to proper surface preparation. Factors, such as the the installation process and environmental conditions can
greatly affect the materials performance. It is critical that any carbon fiber structural repair be installed by trained
professionals who possess a thorough understanding of the installation and material characteristics.
The orientation of the fibers and the fiber layers also has a significant effect on the systems ability to
resist the intended forces. Compression, shear, and tension forces should all be considered when designing a
carbon fiber repair. Guidance from the manufacturer as well as qualified structural engineers are frequently
needed to determine the correct placement and orientation of the system.
