Carbon Fabric
A fabric-based strengthening system that adds ductility and strength by wrapping the member, taking shape flexibly from column confinement to beam-column joints.
The most flexible way to strengthen a member: wrap it.
What defines a column’s behavior under earthquake loads is not its strength alone but its ductility, that is, how much it can deform before failing. Carbon fabric wraps around the member and confines the concrete; this confinement delays the crushing of the concrete and increases the member’s energy dissipation capacity and ductility. What the laminate does on flat surfaces, the fabric does at corners, on circular sections and on complex geometries.
The carbon fiber in fabric form is saturated with resin during application and takes the member’s shape. That flexibility is a great advantage; but the fiber direction’s conformity to the design, the number of plies and the overlap lengths define the system’s performance. Our applications stay faithful to these parameters, carried out under engineering supervision and on record.
- Adds ductility: The wrap increases the member’s deformation capacity under earthquake loading.
- Conforms to the shape: The fabric follows the geometry of circular and cornered sections.
- Light and thin: Section dimensions and structural weight remain virtually unchanged.
- Fast and clean: A planned application with no formwork or concrete pours.
Where wrapping and confinement are required.
The fabric works by surrounding the member; application zones and ply counts are defined by the design.
Column confinement
Increasing columns’ ductility and axial capacity.
Beam-column joints
Confining the beam-column connections.
Circular members
Circular columns and chimney-like sections.
Shear reinforcement
Increasing shear capacity in beams and walls.
Chimney and silo structures
Circumferential confinement of industrial structures.
Damaged member repair
Re-confining the member after repair.
The four conditions for touching the structure.
Every intervention on the structural system follows the same discipline: diagnosis, design, supervised application and complete records.
Diagnosis and design
The existing condition is documented; the intervention is limited to the scope and detail defined by the strengthening design.
Surface and member preparation
The application surface is brought to the condition the design requires; the preparation defines the system’s life.
Supervised application
The application is carried out under civil engineering supervision, adhering to the manufacturer’s system approvals.
Records and handover
Every stage is documented; the work is handed over with a traceable application file.
The confinement is built ply by ply.
The fabric is bonded to the member’s surface with saturating resin; the ply count and overlap lengths never deviate from the design values.
- Protection and finish layerThe top layer protecting the fabric from external effects, ready for render where required.
- Carbon fabric pliesConfining the member, their ply count defined by the design: the fibers.
- Saturating resinThe load-bearing matrix bonding the fibers to one another and to the surface.
- Prepared surfaceThe application surface, cleaned and with its corners rounded.
- Existing reinforced concrete memberThe confined structural member, its condition established beforehand.
As the design requires.
The wrap’s direction, ply count and extent are configured by the design according to the member’s need.
Full wrapping
An application confining the member’s entire perimeter.
Partial wrapping
Wrapping on accessible faces, completed with anchors.
Multi-ply wrapping
Ply count increased according to the capacity need.
Combined with laminate
A system combined with flexural reinforcement.
What is expected of carbon fabric.
Increased ductility
The member’s energy dissipation capacity grows.
Full conformity to shape
Follows circular and cornered sections.
Corrosion immunity
No service-life loss to rusting.
Fast application
A planned intervention with no formwork or pours.
Fidelity to the design
Fiber direction and ply count never deviate from the design.
Traceable records
Every stage is documented at handover.
The scope is defined by the design, not by assumption.
The classification below is indicative only. The final scope is defined by the condition survey and the strengthening design.
Fabric, or another method?
If the member’s need is different, let’s define the right method together, within the framework of the strengthening design.
Technical documents for members
Technical data sheets, safety data sheets and application specifications are available in the membership area open to corporate clients, architects and engineers. Access is free with membership.
Other strengthening systems
Let’s confine your members against the earthquake.
Do you have a strengthening design in hand, or would you like to assess the existing condition? Let’s define the scope together.