Parking Garage Column Restoration

Parking garages are subjected to regular vibrations from vehicles and people passing through. Over time, these vibrations cause tiny cracks in the garage's concrete supports. Freeze-thaw cycles, as well as moisture and oxygen penetrating the concrete, corrode the structures and reinforcing steel within. In this case, a parking garage at a federal building required crack confinement and structural strengthening at the beam-to-joint interface. Freeze-thaw cycles had caused the internal steel reinforcing bar of the supporting column to expand. As it did so, the tiny cracks caused by vibrations also expanded, allowing moisture and oxygen to further corrode the column's concrete and inner rebar. Shear stress had caused the column to yield at the joint. Structural column restoration was required. Prior to installing HJ3's Civil™ carbon fiber system, all loose concrete was removed with chipping hammers. The surface was abraded and cleaned, then primed. Cracks and voids were filled with HJ3's high modulus paste, and saturated carbon fiber was applied. The HJ3 Civil™ structural strengthening system fully completed the column restoration in only 3 hours. The client saved 80% compared to alternative steel repair methods, and the flexible carbon fiber fabric made for easy application behind obstacles. Want more information about HJ3's Civil™ carbon fiber systems and how they can save you money on your own structural repairs? Write to us today at info@hj3.com.