Case Study: Vandergriff Rd. over 74 Fiber Wrap Construction

Fiber wrap technology strengthens a structure to improve the performance and longevity . Thus, saving our customers the cost of removal. This bridge’s substructure needed repair. Road deicer, salt, environmental factors and age all contributed to the deterioration of these columns.

In the case of Vandergriff Rd., the delaminated concrete needed to be addressed. The “bad” concrete was removed and the steel reinforcement was “dug-out”. This leaves room for the patch material to grab all the way around the rebar. The steel reinforcement was sand blasted and coated with a corrosion inhibitor. A moisture test was done insuring the newly placed concrete was below the acceptable level of moisture content. This test is completed prior to the fiber wrap system being installed.

Then our manufacture certified fiber wrap installation techs got right to it. They prepare the surface by sandblasting the area receiving the wrap. This must be done to create a surface profile suitable for great adhesion. In this project the wet lay-up method was used. This means the glass wrap was thoroughly presaturated before applying it to the structure. Care is taken to prevent the wrap from being contaminated by the jobsite environment. Timing is critical and our techs know the trade. The sheets of wrap are laid up on the columns and a topcoat is applied.

This system arrested the deterioration of the structure, repaired the columns, and strengthened the structure to allow for reliable service for years to come.