Light-activated wrap designed to fix concrete structures

By Ben Coxworth

Utilising tape to repair or reinforce concrete structures may seem like a DIY fix-it joke, but that’s just what fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets are used for. Now, scientists have developed what they say is a better FRP, that halves the number of people and amount of time required for application.

Ordinarily, when FRP sheets are applied to cracked or otherwise compromised concrete, a resin must be applied to the surface first. Researchers at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University say up to six workers are typically required for the job.

They have developed ‘FasRaP’ – Fast Wrapping Fibre Reinforced Polymer. It comprises a glass fibre-reinforced polymer wrap, which is pre-coated with a proprietary adhesive resin that hardens only when exposed to light. As a result, it can reportedly be applied by just three people, in half the time required for conventional FRPs.

Additionally, because the resin is pre-applied to the wrap under controlled conditions, they claim that the quality of repairs/reinforcements should be more consistent and easier to assess.

In industry-standard lab tests, a concrete pillar wrapped with FasRaP was found to withstand an 80% higher load than a bare pillar – similar to strength figures for traditional FRPs.

“Our invention allows companies to save on manpower costs, increase efficiency and make structural reinforcement much easier to execute,” says lead scientist, Assoc. Prof. Ng Kee Woei. “This will help them meet future building standards and prolong the life of older buildings and structures as Singapore and other urban cities age.”

The university is now working to commercialise the technology.

Information from Nanyang Technological University

https://newatlas.com/fasrap-concrete-repair-tape/59201/