Concrete bridge repair and structural repair or reinforcement of other concrete and masonry structures can now be achieved much more cost effectively in far less time than traditional methods allow.

Space age material carbon fibre is used to reinforce concrete and other masonry structures; this material is stronger than steel and is corrosion resistant.   Our system can be used to increase the strength of under designed structures or repair damaged structures; it is ideally suited to strengthening concrete bridges and other structures above original design loads, basement repairs, repairing rebar corrosion (concrete cancer) and other cases of damaged steel reinforcement.  

Our grid strap products are also ideally suited to sealing cracks in concrete roads and structures.   The Kevlar cross-weave prevents the problem of further cracking experienced with alternative solutions.   The straps form a durable impermeable barrier to water, giving clients confidence that their structure will remain intact for the entire design life and will not break down with errosion or corrosion of metal rebar.

U.S. based company FORTRESS Stabilization Systems have developed and patented technology that allows efficient and reliable application of specially engineered and manufactured carbon fiber fabric on the construction site.   Our system combines Kevlar with Carbon Fibre using mature technology derived from years of development in the aerospace and marine industries.   The result is a product that is far superior to the alternatives and is extremely efficient and easy to apply, delivering large labour savings with increased reliability and performance.

The product is applied to the external faces of existing structures, often whilst the structure continues to be used.   Unlike other techniques using carbon fiber on concrete or masonry, the system developed by FORTRESS Stabilization Systems uses patented proprietary technology to ensure optimum alignment of the fibre and excellent bonding to the structure when applied in the field, with the added benefit of the ability to visually inspect the bond immediately and throughout the life of the structure; these features are typically problems with other carbon solutions that can reduce the reliability and strength of the repair to levels far below those anticipated by the design engineer.   The system can also be tailored to specific projects with customised fabric weights and carbon grades (many grades of carbon fibre exist with varying strengths and stiffnesses); this allows even greater savings on large projects.

For more details contact the exclusive Australian Distributors:

or refer to the FORTRESS Stabilization Systems website.

Copyright © 2007 by Stuart Bloomfield. All rights reserved.