Application experience of composite external reinforcement systems and optical monitoring of building structures

Abstract

This article describes results of the widespread use of external reinforcement systems for reinforced concrete and metal man-made structures based on domestic and foreign polymer composite materials (PCM), as well as fiber-optic monitoring systems, including a network of fiber-optic sensors (FOS) and a hardware-software complex that track the actual state of the control object throughout the entire life cycle. It is shown that for reinforced concrete structures it is advisable to use composite systems of external reinforcement installed directly on the reinforcement object by contact molding using special cold curing binders. In relation to metal structures, this technology is unacceptable due to a significant difference in the coefficients of linear thermal expansion of the metal and the carbon composite. To solve this problem, reinforcement technology has been proposed, which consists in installing discrete mechanical fasteners of finished composite spigots (similar to metal ones) made by autoclave and autoclave-free molding methods. In the event that deviations from the normative indicators for this type of structures are detected, the necessary set of measures is taken to strengthen, after which the monitoring system carries out a similar control, the results of which characterize the quality of the work performed. Thus, the monitoring system can act both as an effective tool for structural control and carry out local time monitoring before or after the relevant works on strengthening and reconstruction, and in real time work throughout the entire period of operation.