Main methods of strengthening floors (reinforced concrete and monolithic slabs)

For a building to be durable and safe, its floors must be strengthened. Whether working with monolithic slabs or reinforced concrete, the stability of your structure can be significantly affected by using the appropriate techniques. This article will discuss some of the primary methods for strengthening and enhancing the dependability of these kinds of flooring.

Floors may require reinforcement for a number of reasons. Buildings may settle, materials may deteriorate, and the original design may no longer be suitable for modern standards or demands on usage. You can increase occupant safety overall, prolong the life of your building, and avoid expensive repairs by installing floor reinforcement.

We’ll go over techniques like utilizing carbon fiber, adding steel reinforcements, and adding more concrete layers. These methods can be used in various situations, based on your building’s particular requirements. Knowing these techniques will enable you to make wise decisions whether you’re building a new project or trying to renovate an old one.

Main problems

The integrity of house floors can be impacted by several factors:

  1. Mechanical impacts.
  2. Impact on the floor of aggressive liquids, such as acids and alkaline solutions.
  3. Adverse environmental impacts.
  4. Illegal redevelopment of buildings.
  5. Destruction resulting from fires.
  6. Impact of a wave resulting from an earthquake.

The most common cause of destruction found in reinforcement is metal corrosion. As a result, structures’ bearing capacities get smaller.

Repurposing a room may occasionally require reinforcing the floor slabs of buildings because the building will be used for other purposes involving heavy loads. For instance, the building will get new, heavier equipment installed.

In addition to weakening the strength of the floors, rusting rods can occur if the structure was built with a thin layer of concrete.

Start of work

Experts carefully examine each of these cases. It is necessary to perform diagnostics on load-bearing walls and floor slabs.

Finding the root causes of the issue and solutions to fix flaws is the primary goal of this kind of inspection. This kind of work involves specialized equipment and highly qualified specialists. Without the necessary training and expertise, it is impossible to completely eradicate the floor integrity violation on your own.

It is necessary to examine the slab’s width, cross-sectional size, and span. The working reinforcement is installed following the removal of the concrete’s protective layer. Examine the concrete’s condition. Examine current flaws.

The following actions must be taken in order to be ready before beginning work:

  1. Supports are placed under the emergency ceiling, which are large-diameter logs and spacers made of metal pipes. This is necessary to reduce and redistribute the load on the slabs.
  2. In order to clearly see the entire picture of the damage, layers of whitewash, plaster and paint are removed. All crumbling areas of the concrete layer are cleaned. Metal rods are cleaned of traces of rust. Then the reinforcement is treated with a converter for corrosion.
  3. Equipment is removed from the upper part of the slab, the floor is dismantled.
  4. Dust is removed from the places where a new layer of concrete will be laid, and the areas themselves are degreased.

We identify the violation

The lower slab section’s concrete elements that have cracks and delamination are the primary indicators of damage. Cracks in the screed and peeling of the screed are signs of floor defects. Deflections and sagging of the structures, as well as the emergence of cracks in the center of the structures and in the support locations, can all lead to problems. The appearance of areas where the surface is getting darker or lighter can serve as a warning sign.

A strategy for resolving the issue is formulated in light of the survey results. First, the structure’s bearing capacity is reinstated.

A technique of further reinforcing reinforced concrete slabs is selected for this. If the factors that led to the slab’s destruction are not removed, then all of these efforts will be in vain.

Restoring a ribbed platform

All of the defects in adjacent ribbed slabs will be the same if they are destroyed. Adjacent corners and formwork shaped like a board pressed from below create a tray during strengthening. It is then filled with recently mixed, finely ground concrete and vibrated with a flexible shafted needle vibrator.

It is preferable to use "expanding" shrinkage-free cement to strengthen the floors. Later on, the corners will be integrated into the reinforcement as well. Applying red lead paint and performing an anti-corrosion protection treatment are also essential.

We restore old floors

Repairs are rarely necessary for structures composed of concrete, which is based on broken brick, and I-beam load-bearing floor beams. A wide margin of safety is the cause of this. This kind of flooring is built using a strength that is three times greater than what is necessary.

Such a floor can only sustain damage from extended water intrusion and the subsequent metal component corrosion. When such slabs sustain visible damage, floor cracks result.

Transverse cracks are not dangerous. During restoration, damaged areas are removed and replaced with monolithic reinforced concrete.

Modern technologies

More and more attempts are being made these days to use carbon fiber in place of metal rods. Plastic is used to make the fabric and harnesses for this purpose. Compared to metal reinforcement, these new materials are stronger. The characteristics of these materials are exactly the same as those of Kevlar, which is used to make bulletproof vests.

Methods of reinforcing (strengthening) the main types of slabs

In construction, a large range of slab types are employed. They may consist of a single piece, ribs, or a hollow core. The method of floor reinforcement chosen depends on the extent and kind of destruction. The required computations are done and a technical project is made before work begins.

The location and presence of compressed reinforcement, as well as the reinforcement rods spaced along the width, are considered during computations. It is important for experienced workers to reinforce floors.

Hollow-core floors

Such slabs are made whole again by plugging gaps in technology. Installing this method is far more efficient than adding another monolith. The screed is removed from the slab first. Next, above the voids, a groove up to 100 mm wide is cut along the slab. Compressed air is blasted onto the surfaces in the following step.

Next, a horizontal reinforcing mesh and a vertical reinforcing frame are constructed. After installing unique slats, concrete is poured into the spaces left by them.

2 methods for monolithic floors

Creating a second monolithic slab and laying it on top of the first is the most popular way to reinforce monolithic floors. Nonetheless, a lot of professionals think that this approach isn’t always successful. In certain instances, it can be demonstrated through computations that the previous layer is actually even more loaded.

After pre-treating and removing fat from the surface, it is more dependable to reinforce the ribs with corners. Such a corner measures 100 by 100 or 120 by 120 mm. It is placed beneath the slab’s edge. Make a 120 mm deep indentation in the supporting components.

This is done to provide space for the corner’s bottom shelf to be placed. It ought to be aimed at the block’s interior. The floor fragments are replaced with the second method of strengthening monolithic blocks.

U-shaped slabs

There are two methods to strengthen this kind. The first approach, which involves making a new variety of concrete, has already been explained. Utilizing a channel is the second approach. Redistributing the loads is beneficial because the majority of them will fall on the load-bearing walls and floor beams. An identical result is obtained with a "corset" of welded beams.

Ribbed floors

Three techniques for fixing these kinds of floors have been developed:

  1. Use the same technology as when repairing monolithic slabs.
  2. Install supporting columns.
  3. Truss reinforcement is used. It is laid diagonally across the slab, thereby forming 2 stiffening ribs, thus strengthening the slab.

Reinforced concrete slabs with carbon fiber

This type of amplification is considered the most progressive. In this case, the carbon tape is glued directly to the reinforced concrete slab itself.

Method Description
Adding Reinforcement Using steel bars or mesh to increase strength and prevent cracks.
Post-Tensioning Applying tension to steel tendons within the concrete to enhance load-bearing capacity.
Fiber Reinforcement Incorporating synthetic or steel fibers to improve toughness and reduce shrinkage.
Epoxy Injection Filling cracks with epoxy resin to restore structural integrity.
Overlaying Adding a new layer of concrete or other material on top to increase thickness and strength.

To guarantee longevity and safety, floors—whether they are monolithic slabs or made of reinforced concrete—need to be strengthened. Your floors’ durability and load-bearing capacity can be greatly increased by knowing and utilizing the proper techniques, such as post-tensioning, adding reinforcement, or thickening the slab.

These techniques offer comfort in addition to strengthening the building’s structural integrity. It is crucial to select the appropriate strengthening technique depending on the particular needs and circumstances of your project, regardless of whether you are planning a new construction or dealing with an existing structure that needs reinforcement.

Never forget that meticulous preparation and execution are essential for a strengthening process to be successful. Always get advice from structural engineers or experts in concrete work to make sure the strategy you choose is appropriate for your circumstances. You’ll be making an investment in a longer-lasting, safer, and more durable structure if you do this.

The durability and safety of monolithic slabs and reinforced concrete floors can be increased by strengthening them. Typically, methods like adding more concrete layers, putting in steel reinforcements, or using carbon fiber strips are used in this process. These methods aid in lowering vibrations, raising load bearing capacity, and averting possible cracking. Your floors’ lifespan can be increased and their ability to withstand higher demands can be guaranteed by knowing and selecting the appropriate method.

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Andrey Ivanov

Experienced civil engineer with more than 20 years of experience. Specializing in the construction of industrial and civil facilities. Author of many publications in professional journals.

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