Earthquake: How Technical Textiles Can Do Damage Control

Textiles can be used to reinforce and stabilize existing structures, or to create flexible and resilient structures that can better withstand seismic forces. For example, fiber reinforced polymer composites (FRPs) can be used to wrap and strengthen concrete columns, beams, and slabs, and textile-reinforced inflatable structures can be used as seismic isolation devices to reduce the transmission of seismic waves from the ground to the building.

Let's look at the FRP's closely

Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are materials made of fibers, such as carbon or glass, embedded in a polymer matrix, such as epoxy. FRP composites can be used to reinforce concrete structures by wrapping them around columns, beams, and slabs. The wrapping process involves applying the FRP material around the concrete element in multiple layers and then curing the polymer to harden the composite.

The mechanism of how FRP wrapping improves the seismic performance of concrete structures can be explained as follows:

Increased strength: FRP composites provide an additional layer of reinforcement to the concrete structure, which increases its overall strength and stiffness.

Confinement: The FRP wrapping acts as a confinement layer that helps to maintain the integrity of the concrete structure and prevent it from cracking under seismic loading.

Damping: FRP composites have a high damping capacity, meaning that they can absorb a significant amount of energy during an earthquake. This helps to reduce the level of damage to the concrete structure and improve its overall seismic performance.

An example of a building where FRP wrapping has been used to improve its seismic performance is the San Francisco International Terminal. The terminal's concrete columns were reinforced with FRP composites to provide additional strength and increase their resistance to seismic loading. The project involved wrapping over 800 columns with FRP composites, which helped to improve the building's overall seismic performance and reduce the risk of damage during an earthquake.

Comments