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CARBON FIBER REINFORCEMENT
Carbon fiber sheets may be used to reinforce some wall and concrete failures. Carbon fiber sheets are a form
of pure polymerized carbon used as reinforcement in composite materials employed in vehicles and aircraft
combining very high tensile strength with light weight and ease of deployment. Typically a carbon fiber sheet
will be pressed against the repair area (such as a basement wall bulging in from lateral soil pressure) and bonded
to the wall with epoxy. Some systems require attachments to floor or ceiling, while others do not. The carbon
fiber sheets are very thin and thus non-obtrusive and may readily be painted over for an attractive finish.
CRACK FILLING
Cracks in concrete may be filled using a variety of methods depending upon the nature and probable causation
of the cracks. These methods include injection of epoxy and polyurethane mixtures. Other methods, such as
carbon fiber reinforcement, may be necessary to stop the spread of cracks in a concrete wall.
ROCKING SLABS
Rocking slabs are caused by "slab curl" due to irregularities in the concrete curing process. Slab curl may be
accompanied by water intrusion into the soil underlying the slab. Rocking slab or slab curl may be cured by a
surface injection of grout under the curled areas accompanied by leveling of the surface of the concrete either
by grinding or by use of epoxy mixtures.
SPALL REPAIR
"Spalling" of concrete results from superficial surface failures under transient loading near slab joints, cracks
or areas subjected to wheeled traffic. Spall repair uses a modified grout and/or epoxy mixtures to replace concrete
at the spalled point. Spalling occurs along damaged joints and may thus be part of a joint repair.
JACK AND SHIM LEVELING
Jack and shim leveling is used for heavy leveling or releveling in limited access areas. The area to be leveled,
such as a machine base or bridge joist, is jacked up to the desired elevation and then shimmed in place while
repairs are made to make the leveling permanent or to replace components made accessible.
WEAR PART REPLACEMENT
Barrier Geotechnical uses jack-&-shim methods to replace wear parts on bridges."Wear parts" are bearing
plates set between columns and joists of a bridge that experience wear, deterioration and corrosion over time
and require occasional replacement as a result. Joists or column supports are lifted off using jacks to expose
the worn bearing plate. The gap between the joist and the column is filled with shims and the bearing plate is
unbolted and replaced. The shims are then removed and the joist is lowered back over the new bearing plate.
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