High performing protective shell for concrete structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017191279-A1
Application number	US-201514984708-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 30, 2015
Priority date	Dec 30, 2015
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

The subject invention provides materials and methods for repairing and/or improving the performance of concrete structures. In preferred embodiments, the methods comprise attaching a thin shell of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) over the area of interest, the shape of the shell substantially conforming to that of the area itself, and subsequently filling a cavity defined by the shell with UHPC.

First claim

1 . A method of improving the performance of a concrete structure, comprising:
preparing an area of interest of the concrete structure that needs repair and/or improvement by cleaning and roughening the area of interest; providing a concrete shell having a shape such that, when the shell is applied to the area of interest, the area of interest is substantially covered by the shell; placing the concrete shell adjacent to, or against, the area of interest or a curtilage thereof, the shell being separated from the area of interest by using one or more positioning elements that help create, and/or maintain, a cavity between the shell and the area of interest; attaching the shell to the area of interest or to the curtilage thereof by one or more fasteners and/or sealing the junction between the shell and the area of interest or the curtilage thereof; and injecting concrete, grout and/or epoxy into the cavity between the shell and the area of interest.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the concrete shell comprises ultra-high performing concrete (UHPC).

3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the material that forms the shell has a thickness of between about 1/32 of an inch and 2 inches.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more positioning elements comprise a material that does not corrode.

5 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein each positioning element is at least ¼ inch in length.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein each fastener is driven into the concrete structure through a positioning element.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein a bonding agent is used to form the seal and is selected from grout, epoxy, and concrete.

8 . A preformed UHPC shell defining an open cavity and adapted to be attached to a concrete structure in need of repair and/or improved performance.

9 . The preformed UHPC shell according to claim 8 , having formed therein at least one opening through which a fastener can be inserted.

10 . A kit comprising a preformed UHPC shell defining an open cavity and adapted to be attached to a concrete structure in need of repair and/or improved performance and one or more further components selected from bonding agents, fasteners, and positioning elements.

Assignees

• Azizinamini Atorod
• Valikhani Alireza
• Jahromi Azadeh Jaberi
• Dickinson Morgan
• Univ Florida Int

Inventors

• Azizinamini Atorod
• Valikhani Alireza
• Jahromi Azadeh Jaberi
• Dickinson Morgan

Classifications

• E04G23/0211 Primary

  using injection · CPC title

• E04G23/0218 Primary

  Increasing or restoring the load-bearing capacity of building construction elements (E04G23/0203 and E04G23/0266 take precedence) · CPC title