Thompson Coe Composite Reinforcement
Composite strengthening combining externally bonded carbon fiber, anchors and near-surface-mounted bars within one engineered scope.
Delta Structural Technology completed composite strengthening for the Thompson Coe project. The scope combined externally bonded carbon fiber with near-surface-mounted carbon fiber bars following drawings by Walter P Moore Engineering. Developed for Harvey Builders, the work brought two composite installation methods into one strengthening package, with separate preparation requirements for the fabric and embedded bar locations.
- Market
- Commercial
- Services
- CFRP and near-surface-mounted reinforcement
Project challenge
The reinforcement design used both surface-applied carbon fiber and bars set into grooves in the concrete. These treatments required different preparation steps and accurate layout. The fiber areas needed a suitable bonding surface, while the near-surface-mounted bars required saw-cut grooves located to the structural plans. Both details had to fit the existing member and surrounding finishes.
Project approach
Delta’s scope included material procurement after submittal approval, protection of existing finishes, reinforcement layout and surface grinding. Carbon fiber anchors were to follow the engineer’s drawings, with the bonded reinforcement applied to the approved shop drawings. For the near-surface-mounted portion, Delta would lay out and saw-cut the required grooves before installing the bars. The combined sequence preserved the distinct installation needs of the two reinforcement methods.
Delivery and coordination
Engineering submittals and approval governed the material package and final layouts. The work required coordination of groove locations, fiber placement and anchors, as well as readiness of the receiving concrete. Harvey Builders was the contractor identified in the proposal. Finish protection and final cleanup framed the installation work within the wider project environment.
Project significance
The Thompson Coe project illustrates a composite retrofit that uses more than one reinforcement form. Its distinctive feature is the combination of externally bonded fiber and near-surface-mounted bars. The case demonstrates why preparation and layout must be specific to each system, even when both methods contribute to a single strengthening scope.
