What is the Sistema REFC?
REFC technology is the most cost-effective and innovative solution for the strengthening and restoration of infrastructure in the world. It not only repairs degraded structures; it actually makes them stronger than when they were new.
Our Material
The main component of the Sistema REFC is carbon fiber. The fibers are woven into a flexible fabric that adheres to the surface of the framework to be repaired by wetting it with a structural epoxy resin formulation.
The Sistema REFC provides the most suitable balance of properties to reinforce and / or repair damaged concrete structures.
The low viscosity and thixotropic nature allows rapid and complete wetting of carbon fiber fabrics without drainage or sagging on vertical and raised surfaces.
The pot life and cure speed of the material is balanced to allow multiple applications or coats in a single day.
Why use REFC instead of traditional methods?
- Lower cost
- Longer duration
- Requires less installation time
- Does not increase the weight of the structure
- Requires minimal access for installation
- Does not change the original characteristics of the structure
- Add a few centimeters to the thickness of the structure without adding mass
Material Advantages
- Resistance to corrosion
- Great strength
- Low cost
- Simple installation
- Light weight
- Flexible
Types of strengthening
COLUMN REINFORCEMENT
REFC is used to increase the ductility and strength of concrete columns. Due to the benefits of confinement effects, the ductility of the columns is significantly increased.
In addition, the REFC System helps compensate for inadequate amounts of lateral ties, or improperly detailed, and significantly increases the shear strength of the columns.
ADVANTAGES
- Increase in ductility
- Increased resistance to shear
- Increased axial load capacity
- Lightweight and easy to install
- Can be wrapped between columns with variable cross section
- Costs less than alternatives such as steel liners
BEAM REINFORCEMENT
The Sistema REFC increases the bending and shear resistance of concrete beams.
To increase flexural strength, the fabric is attached to the tension face. And for shear strength, the fabric is attached to the beam web.
It can also be used to increase and repair cracked steel beams. Beams cracked and then repaired with the Sistema REFC prove to be stronger than the original beams without damage.
ADVANTAGES
- Increased flexural strength
- Increased resistance to shear
- Does not reduce free space
- Lightweight and easy to install
- Less expensive than alternatives
- Restores full capacity of cracked beams
CONCRETE FLOOR AND WALL REINFORCEMENT
The Sistema REFC significantly increases forces on wall and floor surfaces, interior and exterior in concrete buildings.
It is very light and is applied to these types of structures in a way very similar to a surface coating, but at the same time it will provide significant strength as if sprayed concrete had been applied to the structure.
ADVANTAGES
- Increase in flexural strength in the concrete surface
- Increase in shear resistance in plane
- Does not add significant weight to the existing structure
- Does not require modifications to the bases since no weight is added to the structure
- The Sistema REFC measures less than one eighth of an inch thick, does not occupy volume
- The Sistema REFC converts a concrete surface either floor or walls into a reinforced structure that works together
- Costs less than alternatives like shotcrete
- Quick and easy to install
REINFORCEMENT OF CONCRETE SLABS
The REFC fabric is attached to the bottom of the slabs (positive moment regions) or to the top of the slabs (negative moment regions) to increase flexural strength.
ADVANTAGES
- Increased flexural strength
- Reduce deviations
- Lightweight and easy to install
- Protects slabs from future environmental damage
- Less expensive than alternatives
REINFORCEMENT OF TANKS AND PIPES
One of the most economical and effective applications of the Sistema REFC is in the strengthening of buried pipes. Concrete and steel pipes can be strengthened to withstand even greater pressures than originally designed, at a fraction of the cost and time of other alternatives.
In the case of pipes with a diameter greater than 1 meter, access is made from the manholes and all operations are carried out from the inside.
If the pipe is not buried, the coating can be done on the outside of the pipe, resulting in the same benefits.
Corroded or leaking steel pipe can be fortified with REFC to compensate for loss of wall thickness due to corrosion.
This application also makes the pipe waterproof and prevents leaks. Steel pipes can be lined to withstand higher pressures than originally designed.
ADVANTAGES
- No excavation required
- Increases pipe strength even above its original pressure rating
- Access is only through the manholes
- Creates a very smooth surface and significantly improves pipe flow
- The Sistema REFC fabric is one-eighth of an inch thick, therefore it does not reduce the inside diameter of the pipes or the flow volume.
- Lightweight and easy to install
- Does not require heavy equipment for installation
- Costs less than alternatives like steel cladding
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