Fabric reinforced beam and column connections
First Claim
1. A reinforced structure wherein a platform is supported by beams and wherein said beams are in turn supported by columns, said reinforced structure comprising:
- a structural platform having a lower surface;
at least one beam extending laterally under said structural platform, said beam having a top portion which is connected to said lower surface of said structural platform to provide support thereof, said beam also having two side surfaces and a bottom surface;
a support column having a top portion connected to the bottom surface of said beam, said support column also having one or more sides defining a column extending away from said beam;
composite material beam reinforcement means for reinforcing the connection of said structural platform to said beam; and
at least one fabric strip for securing said reinforcement means to said structure, said fabric strip being adhered in part to a surface of said reinforcement means and extending into a cavity formed within said structure and secured therein.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A technique for applying high strength fiber fabric to strengthen beams and the connection between beams and either supported platforms or supporting vertical columns is disclosed. Fabric made of high strength fibers such as glass, boron, or carbon, is laid over the connection between a beam and a platform, or between a beam and a supporting column, and impregnated with an epoxy resin or other polymer matrix. The fabric may be additionally fastened to the structural member using adhesives, fabric fasteners, or bolts. The invention is particularly well suited for retrofitting bridges, freeway overpasses, parking structures, and the like to prevent failure during an earthquake.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A reinforced structure wherein a platform is supported by beams and wherein said beams are in turn supported by columns, said reinforced structure comprising:
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a structural platform having a lower surface; at least one beam extending laterally under said structural platform, said beam having a top portion which is connected to said lower surface of said structural platform to provide support thereof, said beam also having two side surfaces and a bottom surface; a support column having a top portion connected to the bottom surface of said beam, said support column also having one or more sides defining a column extending away from said beam; composite material beam reinforcement means for reinforcing the connection of said structural platform to said beam; and at least one fabric strip for securing said reinforcement means to said structure, said fabric strip being adhered in part to a surface of said reinforcement means and extending into a cavity formed within said structure and secured therein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A reinforced structure wherein a platform is supported by beams and wherein said beams are in turn supported by columns, said reinforced structure comprising:
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a structural platform having a lower surface; at least one beam extending laterally under said structural platform, said beam having a top portion which is connected to said lower surface of said structural platform to provide support thereof, said beam also having two side surfaces and a bottom surface; a support column having a top portion connected to the bottom surface of said beam, said support column also having one or more sides defining a column extending away from said beam; and a composite material shell for reinforcing the connection of said structural platform to said beam, said shell comprising; a beam encasement portion which covers the bottom surface and two side surfaces of said beam; a structural platform portion which is integral with said beam encasement portion and which extends from said beam encasement portion so as to cover at least a portion of the lower surface of said structural platform; means for securing said beam encasement portion to said beam; and means for securing said structural platform portion to said structural platform. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A reinforced structure wherein a platform is supported by beams and wherein said beams are in turn supported by columns, said reinforced structure comprising:
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a structural platform having a lower surface; at least one beam comprised of steel reinforced concrete, said beam extending laterally under said structural platform, said beam having a top surface which contacts said lower surface of said structural platform to provide support thereof, said beam also having two side surfaces and a bottom surface; a support column comprised of steel reinforced concrete, said support column having a top surface in contact with the bottom surface of said beam, said support column also having one or more sides defining a column extending away from said beam; and a composite material wrapping for reinforcing the connection of said support column to said beam, said composite material wrapping comprising; composite material connection wrappings which cover the two side surfaces of said beam in the area where said beam is connected to said support column, said composite material connection wrappings also extending onto the side surfaces of said support column; first and second beam tie wrappings which each comprise a composite material, said first and second tie wrappings being wrapped around said composite material connection wrappings located on said beam on either side of the location where said beam connects to said support column; and a column tie wrapping which comprises a composite material which is wrapped around said composite material connection wrapping located on said support column. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A reinforced structure for supporting an elevated roadway comprising:
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a support column having a longitudinal axis; a structural cross member connected to said support column, said structuraI cross member having a longitudinal axis; and composite material column reinforcement means for reinforcing the connection of said support column to said structural cross member, said composite column reinforcement means comprising; composite material connection wrapping which covers at least a portion of the connection between said support column and said structural cross member, and further covers at least a portion of said support column and at least a portion of said cross member; a first tie wrapping which comprises substantially unidirectional fibers in a polymer matrix, said first tie wrapping being wrapped around said composite material connection wrapping located on said support column; and a second tie wrapping which comprises substantially unidirectional fibers in a polymer matrix, said second tie wrapping being wrapped around said composite material connection wrapping located on said structural cross member.
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21. A reinforced structure for supporting an elevated roadway comprising:
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a support column; a cross member connected perpendicular to said support column at a first end of said cross member, said cross member having an upper and a lower surface, said cross member having a longitudinal axis; a first wrap support comprising an elongate member of isosceles triangular cross section, said first wrap support abutting both said support column and the upper surface of said cross member; a second wrap support comprising an elongate member of isosceles triangular cross section, said second wrap support abutting both said support column and the lower surface of said cross member; composite reinforcement means for reinforcing the connection between said support column and said cross member, said composite reinforcement means comprising; a first wrapping, said first wrapping being wrapped over said first wrap support and extending onto said support column at an angle of plus 45°
with respect to the longitudinal axis of said cross member;a second wrapping, said second wrapping being wrapped over said second wrap support and extending onto said support column at an angle of minus 45°
with respect to the longitudinal axis of to said cross member. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification