1. Composites Advantage, LLC Carbon Fiber Composite Solutions for Structural Strengthening & Protection

2. Specialty engineering firm FRP experts Materials systems supplier Applicator and Architectural Finishes Who is Composites Advantage, LLC ?

3. FRP is a strengthening tool Conventional strengthening tools Concrete enlargement (shotcrete), underpinning, post tensioning, steel plates Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) A composite system (carbon/glass fabric + epoxy matrix) used to augment another composite system (concrete + rebar) Formats: “wrap”, prefab: dowel bars, plates, strips FRP provides on the outside what concrete is missing inside (e.g. hoop steel for columns).

4. Strengthening applications Change of use…increased live/wheel loads Installation of heavy machinery expansion of existing facilities Construction or design defects Code changes…new design criteria legislature driven Seismic retrofit Blast protection Deterioration remediation For concrete columns, beams, slabs, walls

5. Fiber composites Fabric can be custom cut at project site Easy to handle and install

6. Fabric Manufacturing Spools of fibers are combined into fabrics and pre-cured strips

7. Key FRP concepts Confinement Columns Think of a weightlifter’s waist belt FRP keeps column rebar from buckling Added tensile strength Underside of beams Shear strength Walls Adds in and out-of-plane strength

8. From military to construction

9. History of FRP for construction Mid 1980s EU and Japan begin FRP research and development Late 80s, early 90s Funding for US universities begins Leverage technology developed during the Cold War FHWA, CalTrans*, DARPA UCSD, UofM/Rolla, Penn State, Brown University, North Carolina State, University of Arizona

10. Composites Testing Lab

11. Typical Applications CFRP Overlays

12. Hospitals

13. Parking Structures

16. Blast test results Unprotected column severely deformed from C4 blast Column wrapped in carbon fiber holds up in same blast

17. FRP’s benefits Engineering benefits Very high tensile strength (10-14x steel) but also ductile (complements concrete’s properties) Very corrosion resistant Architectural and construction benefits Easier to apply/install Lightweight, thin, unnoticeable Minimal structure/tenant intrusion & disruption Economic benefits Low installation costs Great, tangible, ROI FRP works. It’s been reviewed, validated, approved, documented and incorporated worldwide.

18. Building owner benefits Shorter projects Lower cost Safe and effective Much less tenant disruption Industry/Agency/Peer acceptance

19. Installation expertise Proper usage (structural engineering) Safety & insurance (look for qualified contractors) Installation environment (doing your homework) Demolition Surface preparation Proper installation techniques Keen attention to detail QA/QC (core competence) Samples collection and mgt. Finishing (virtually any finish can be applied)

21. Original plan called for shotcrete for strengthening.

22. Through collaborative efforts, FRP was VE’d in its place

23. Navy benefits:

24. 60% less demolition (landfill)

25. 50% less disruption

26. no loss of square footage space

27. Navy saved $500,000 and 9months (roughly a 36 mo prjt)

29. Thank You Composites Advantage, LLC Steve Behrens 24031 El Toro Road Suite 304 Laguna Hills, California 92653 714-926-8056 office/mobile Email: steve@compositesadvantage.com