Composites Advantage, LLCCarbon Fiber Composite Solutions for

Structural Strengthening & Protection

– Specialty engineering firm

– FRP experts– Materials systems

supplier– Applicator and

Architectural Finishes

Who is Composites Advantage, LLC ?

FRP is a strengthening tool

Conventional strengthening tools– Concrete enlargement (shotcrete),

underpinning, post tensioning, steel platesFiber-reinforced polymers (FRP)

– A composite system (carbon/glass fabric + epoxy matrix) used to augment another composite system (concrete + rebar)

Formats: “wrap”, prefab: dowel bars, plates, strips

FRP provides on the outside what concrete is missing inside (e.g. hoop steel for columns).

Strengthening applications

Change of use…increased live/wheel loads– Installation of heavy machinery– expansion of existing facilities

Construction or design defects Code changes…new design criteria

– legislature driven Seismic retrofit Blast protection Deterioration remediation

For concrete columns, beams, slabs, walls

Fiber composites

Fabric can be custom cut at project site

Easy to handle and install

Fabric can be custom cut at project site

Easy to handle and install

Fabric ManufacturingFabric Manufacturing

Spools of fibers are combined into fabrics and pre-cured strips

Key FRP concepts

Confinement – Columns

Think of a weightlifter’s waist belt

FRP keeps column rebar from buckling

Added tensile strength– Underside of beams

Shear strength– Walls

Adds in and out-of-plane strength

From military to construction

History of FRP for construction

Mid 1980s– EU and Japan begin FRP research and development

Late 80s, early 90s– Funding for US universities begins

Leverage technology developed during the Cold War FHWA, CalTrans*, DARPA UCSD, UofM/Rolla, Penn State, Brown University, North

Carolina State, University of Arizona

Composites Testing Lab

Typical ApplicationsTypical Applications

CFRP OverlaysCFRP Overlays

HospitalsHospitals

Parking StructuresParking Structures

Composites are now accepted for

retrofit and rehabilitation

Composites are now accepted for

retrofit and rehabilitation

20 years of history, over 20,000 projects completed worldwide

ICC, LARR, ACI, Caltrans, FHWA, cities, DSA, and OSHPD* have accepted for a variety of projects

20 years of history, over 20,000 projects completed worldwide

ICC, LARR, ACI, Caltrans, FHWA, cities, DSA, and OSHPD* have accepted for a variety of projects

COMPOSITE OVERLAYS

FOR

BLAST RETROFITS

COMPOSITE OVERLAYS

FOR

BLAST RETROFITS

Blast test results

Column wrapped in carbon fiber holds up in same blast

Column wrapped in carbon fiber holds up in same blast

Unprotected column severely deformed from C4 blast

Unprotected column severely deformed from C4 blast

FRP’s benefits Engineering benefits

– Very high tensile strength (10-14x steel) but also ductile (complements concrete’s properties)

– Very corrosion resistant Architectural and construction benefits

– Easier to apply/install– Lightweight, thin, unnoticeable – Minimal structure/tenant intrusion & disruption

Economic benefits – Low installation costs – Great, tangible, ROI FRP works.

It’s been reviewed, validated, approved, documented and

incorporated worldwide.

Building owner benefits

Shorter projects

Lower cost

Safe and effective

Much less tenant disruption

Industry/Agency/Peer acceptance

Installation expertise

Proper usage (structural engineering) Safety & insurance (look for qualified contractors) Installation environment (doing your homework) Demolition Surface preparation Proper installation techniques

– Keen attention to detail QA/QC (core competence)

– Samples collection and mgt. Finishing (virtually any finish can be applied)

FRP benefit: ROICase Study

$18.5M D/B Renovation Project: “BEQ-26”

• San Diego based Navy barracks underwent renovation, including seismic.

• Original plan called for shotcrete for strengthening.• Through collaborative efforts, FRP was VE’d in its place• Navy benefits:

• 60% less demolition (landfill)• 50% less disruption• no loss of square footage space• Navy saved $500,000 and 9months (roughly a 36 mo prjt)

• Project was 1 of 21 nominees for the 2002 Charles Pankow Award for Innovation

Next steps

Composites Advantage, LLC. can meet with you or your SE/architect to discuss FRP’s benefits in more detail– VE analysis– Free consultation

Information is available in CD or print formFor projects already spec’d or on the street,

we are ready to do the work

Thank You

Composites Advantage, LLC

Steve Behrens

24031 El Toro Road

Suite 304

Laguna Hills, California 92653

714-926-8056 office/mobile

Email: steve@compositesadvantage.com