Project - Carbon-Fiber
Excited to see an idea I introduced into AEGIS two years ago finally progressing into construction at full swing.
For a residential apartment building project in Canberra, Australia’s capital city, I proposed a non-conventional slab strengthening solution using Carbon-Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) for the flexural strengthening of excessively deflecting reinforced-concrete (RC) slab. The concept was strongly influenced by my PhD research on CFRP applications in structural systems, making this project particularly rewarding from both a research and professional engineering perspective.
One of the key challenges on the project was maintaining adequate vehicle clearance (head-height) within the residential parking area. Conventional strengthening methods would likely have required additional beams or steel elements on the RC slab's soffit, reducing the clear head-height and impacting the functionality of the space. By adopting a CFRP strengthening system using SikaWrap®-300C, we were able to enhance the slab’s flexural capacity while largely preserving the existing clearance requirements.
The strengthening system was designed in accordance with ACI 440.2R-17, ensuring alignment with internationally recognised guidelines for externally bonded FRP systems and providing confidence in the long-term structural performance of the solution.
A special thanks to Resty Briones for the valuable technical support provided through Sika’s specialised CFRP design software for flexural strengthening, which greatly assisted in the design, optimisation, and verification of the strengthening methodology.
Beyond the structural benefits, the solution also delivered significant sustainability and constructability advantages, including reduced material usage, lower additional dead load, faster installation, and minimal disruption to the existing structure. This project demonstrated how innovative engineering approaches can deliver more economical, efficient, and practical strengthening solutions compared to conventional strengthening methods.
It is incredibly rewarding to now see the system being implemented on site and progressing toward successful completion.
Experiences like this continue to strengthen my interest in developing and applying innovative CFRP strengthening solutions for future projects, particularly where sustainable, economical, and efficient structural rehabilitation outcomes are critical.
