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Beam & Girder Repair

Deterioration of beams and girders is a common problem in aging infrastructure. Corrosion of reinforcing steel, freeze-thaw damage, increased load demands, and accidental impacts can all reduce the structural capacity of these critical elements.

QuakeWrap® provides several advanced Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) solutions for strengthening and rehabilitating beams and girders. These systems restore structural capacity, extend service life, and can often be installed with minimal disruption to facility operations.

wet Layup System

The wet layup FRP system, pioneered by Prof. Mo Ehsani in the late 1980s, is one of the earliest and most widely used composite strengthening methods.

In this technique, thin sheets of fiber-reinforced polymer fabric—typically about 0.04 in. (1 mm) thick—are saturated with resin and bonded directly to the surface of the beam or girder, similar to applying wallpaper. Once cured, the composite forms a high-strength reinforcing layer with tensile strength three times greater than steel.

This method can be used to:

  • Increase flexural capacity of beams and girders

  • Improve shear strength

  • Control cracking and enhance durability

Because the fabric is flexible, it can easily conform to irregular shapes such as AASHTO girders, T-beams, and other complex profiles.

Limitations of the Wet Layup System

While highly effective in many applications, the wet layup system has some limitations:

  • The concrete surface must first be repaired, patched, and ground smooth to provide a proper bonding surface.

  • Installation requires a dry environment, making the method unsuitable for underwater repairs or locations with constant moisture.

Repairs Using SPiRe®+

For situations where surface preparation is difficult or where repairs must be performed in wet or submerged environments, QuakeWrap offers the patented SPiRe®+ system.

SPiRe®+ panels are rigid pultruded fiberglass sheets, typically 3 ft (914 mm) wide, designed to act simultaneously as:

  • Stay-in-place formwork

  • Structural reinforcement

  • Corrosion protection

The outer face of the panel is smooth and forms the finished surface. The inner face contains protruding T-shaped elements that act as built-in reinforcing bars. This surface is also grit-coated to improve bonding with grout or concrete.

During installation:

  1. Panels are positioned around the beam or girder and anchored mechanically with bolts or fasteners.

  2. The panels create a structural shell around the damaged member.

  3. The space between the existing beam and the panels is filled with high-strength grout or concrete, forming a composite structural section.

Advantages of the SPiRe®+ System

  • Minimal surface preparation required

  • Can be installed in wet environments or underwater

  • Provides permanent corrosion protection

  • Combines formwork, reinforcement, and strengthening in a single system

  • Rapid installation with minimal disruption

This innovative system significantly reduces construction time and costs compared with traditional repair methods.

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