REINFORCEMENT BAR AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SAME

• US 20130239503A1
• Filed: 10/21/2011
• Published: 09/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ReforceTech, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ReforceTech, Ltd.
• Inventors: Miller, Leonard W., Standal, Per Cato
• Granted Patent: US 11,820,709 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/414
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 53/58 helically
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 14/386 Carbon carbon nanotubes C04B14/026
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 14/42 Glass
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 14/4668 of vulcanic origin
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 20/0068 Composite fibres, e.g. fibres with a core and sheath of different material
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 20/1029 Macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 5/07 Reinforcing elements of material other than metal, e.g. of glass, of plastics, or not exclusively made of metal metal elements with non-structural coatings E04C5/01
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 5/073 Discrete reinforcing elements, e.g. fibres
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2918 including free carbon or carbide or therewith [not as steel]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2936 Wound or wrapped core or coating [i.e., spiral or helical]

Abstract

Reinforcement bars for concrete structures, comprising continuous, parallel fibers, made of basalt, carbon, glass fiber, or the like, embedded in a cured matrix, each bar being made of at least one fiber bundle comprising a number of parallel, cylindrical cross section fibers and said bars being provided with a surface shape and/or texture which contributes to good bonding with the concrete. Part of the surface of each bar being deformed prior to or during the curing by: a) strings of an elastic or inelastic, and/or b) at least one deformed section of each reinforcement bar; thereby producing a roughened surface.

Claims

1. Reinforcement bar for concrete structures, comprising a large number of continuous, parallel fibers, slightly tensioned, preferably made of basalt, carbon, glass fiber, or the like, embedded in a cured matrix, the bars preferably having an average length in the range of 20 mm to 200 mm, and an average diameter in the range of 0.3 mm to 3 mm, each bar being made of at least one fiber bundle comprising a number of parallel, preferably straight fibers having a cylindrical cross section, the cross section preferably being more or less circular or oval, characterized in that at least a part of the surface of each bar being deformed prior to or during the curing stage of the matrix by means of:

a) one or more strings of an elastic or inelastic, but tensioned material being helically wound around said at least one bundle of parallel, straight fibers prior to curing of the matrix in which the fibers are embedded, maintaining the fibers in an parallel state during curing and providing an uneven external surface with longitudinally arranged helical indents in a longitudinal direction on the surface of the matrixed fiber bundle(s) of the reinforcement bars, and/or

b) that said bars being provided with a surface shape and/or texture which contributes to good bonding with the concrete thereby providing a roughened surface.

2. Reinforcement bar according to claim 1, wherein said two or more strings are helically wound in opposite direction around the matrix embedded fiber bundle(s).

3. Reinforcement bar according to claim 1, wherein the mini bars are made of basalt fibers, carbon, glass or the like.

4. Reinforcement bar according to claim 1, wherein the pitch length of the helix is in the range of 10 mm to 22 mm, and preferably be around 17 mm to be matched with grade of concrete and aggregate size.

5. Reinforcement bar according to claim 1, wherein the angle α

of the helix with respect to the center line of the mini fiber may be in the range between 4 to 8 degrees, while the angle β

of the parallel fibers with respect to said center line of the mini fiber should be in the order of 2 to 5 degrees.

6. Method for manufacturing reinforcement bars as further defined by claim 1, wherein each bar comprises a large number of continuous, parallel fibers, preferably made of basalt, carbon, glass fiber, or the like, embedded in a cured matrix, the bars preferably having a length in the range 20 mm to 200 mm, and a diameter in the range of 0.3 mm to 3 mm, characterized in that the bars is made of at least one fiber bundle, which prior to or during the curing process are provided with a surface texture contributing to good bonding with the concrete, said surface texture is obtained by helically winding one or more strings of an elastic material around said at least one bundle of parallel, fibers the fibers also being straight.

7. Method according to claim 6, wherein said at least one helically string is wound prior to curing of the matrix, holding the fibers in an parallel state during curing and providing an uneven external surface in a longitudinal direction of the reinforcement bars.

8. Method according to claim 7, wherein two or more strings are helically wound in opposite direction.

9. Method according to claim 7, wherein the helical winding is wound with an angle α

which is in the region between 4 and 8 degrees with respect to the center line of the elongate mini bar.

10. Use of short fibers as defined in claim 1 above, wherein the fibers are randomly mixed with green concrete and used for repair work of cracked concrete and also for providing average residual strength and flexural strength in the cured concrete structures, thereby restoring or improving the structural integrity of the concrete structure.