Repair and Strengthening of Corroded Structures

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for easily and cost-effectively repairing and/or reinforcing damaged and/or underwater structures. In these methods, special FRP panels with protruding profiles are fabricated and additional reinforcement elements, in various desired orientations, are attached to the panels by special universal attachment devices. The reinforced panels are placed at a distance from the damaged structure, and the annular space between the structure and the panels is filled with curable materials such as concrete, grout, epoxy-grout, etc.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of repairing a deteriorated structure, the method comprising:
 placing a reinforcing panel with protruding profiles at a distance from a surface of the structure, wherein the protrusions face the structure;   placing additional reinforcing elements within an annular space between the structure and the reinforcing panel, wherein the additional reinforcing elements may or may not be attached to the reinforcing panel;   securing the reinforcing panel to the structure by shear transfer mechanisms;   filling the annular space between the structure and the reinforcing panel with a curable filler material; and   letting the filler material cure.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the panel is made of FRP and/or lightweight non-corroding materials. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein two or more panels are connected together along their edges to create a large enough reinforcing panel assembly that covers a desired surface of the structure, and wherein the two or more panels are connected together by connector elements or by partial overlap of adjacent panels. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein protrusions of the panel are T-profiles and run in one direction. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein additional reinforcing elements are rebars. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein shear transfer mechanisms are shear bolts that are strongly anchored in the structure, pass through the filler material, and are securely attached to the reinforcing panel(s). 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the filler material is concrete, grout, resin, or epoxy-grout. 
     
     
         8 . A method of repair and reinforcement of a structure, the method comprising:
 providing at least one reinforcement panel that includes protrusion profiles on one side of the panel;   strengthening the reinforcing panel by attaching reinforcement elements to the protrusions of the reinforcing panel at a desired distance from the reinforcing panel and at desired angles with respect to the protrusions;   placing the strengthened reinforcing panel at a desired distance from the structure so that the protrusions face the structure;   anchoring the reinforcing panel to the structure by shear anchors;   filling a space between the reinforcing panel and the structure with curable filling material; and   leaving the reinforcing panel(s) in place.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the panel is made of FRP and/or lightweight non-corroding materials. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein two or more panels are connected together along their edges to create a large enough reinforcing panel assembly that covers a desired surface of the structure, and wherein the two or more panels are connected together by connector elements or by partial overlap of adjacent panels. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein protrusions of the panel are T-profiles and run in one direction. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein additional reinforcing elements are rebars. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein shear transfer mechanisms are shear bolts and/or J-bolts that are strongly anchored in the structure, pass through the filler material, and are securely attached to the reinforcing panel(s). 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the filler material is concrete, grout, resin, or epoxy-grout. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein details of reinforcing panel's structure and/or the desired distance between the reinforcing panel and the structure and/or details of strengthening the reinforcing panel(s) and/or details of anchoring the reinforcing panel to the structure by shear anchors are based on design calculations. 
     
     
         16 . A method of reinforcing a structure that is at least partially submerged in water, the method comprising:
 placing a desired number of reinforcing panels with protruding profiles over and under water-line at a desired distance from the structure such that the reinforcing panels cover a desired area of the structure;   supporting the reinforcing panels with piles driven into ground such that the panels stay between the piles and the structure and the protruding profiles face the structure;   attaching the reinforcing panels to the piles;   placing reinforcement elements inside a space between the reinforcing panels and the structure, wherein the reinforcement elements may or may not be attached to the reinforcing panels;   closing some gaps between some edges of the reinforcing panels and the structure such that the space between the panels and the structure can maintain a liquid or a semi-liquid filler material; and   filling the space between the reinforcing panels and the structure with curable filling material.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the reinforcing panels are connected to the structure with anchor bolts or shear connectors that are strongly anchored in the structure, pass through the filler material, and are securely attached to the reinforcing panels. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein two or more reinforcing panels are connected together along their edges to create a large enough reinforcing panel assembly that covers a desired surface of the structure, and wherein the two or more panels are connected together by connector elements or by partial overlap of latitudinally adjacent panels, or two edges of longitudinally adjacent panels are fixed to a same pile in a butting orientation. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein protrusions of the panel are T-profiles and run in one direction and are situated horizontally when placing the reinforcing panels, and wherein additional reinforcing elements are rebars. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein details of reinforcing panel's structure and/or the desired distance between the reinforcing panel and the structure and/or details of strengthening the reinforcing panel(s) and/or details of anchoring the reinforcing panel to the structure by shear anchors are based on design calculations.