Composites Global is an engineering firm that specializes in fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite systems for structural strengthening and protection. FRP involves wrapping structures like columns and beams in carbon or glass fabric and epoxy to increase their strength, durability, and blast resistance. FRP provides external reinforcement that concrete structures often lack internally. It has a 20-year history and has been used on over 20,000 projects worldwide for strengthening, seismic retrofitting, deterioration remediation, and blast protection of concrete structures like buildings, parking garages, hospitals and bridges. FRP installations are minimally disruptive, have a high strength-to-weight ratio, and provide a cost-effective strengthening solution.

1. Composites Global
Carbon & Glass Fiber Composite Solutions
for Structural Strengthening & Protection

2. – Specialty engineering
firm
– FRP experts
– Materials systems
supplier
– Applicator and
Architectural Finishes
Who is Composites Global ?

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

14. Composites are now accepted for
retrofit and rehabilitation
 20 years of history, over 20,000 projects
completed worldwide
 ICC, LARR, ACI, Caltrans, FHWA, cities,
DSA, and OSHPD* have accepted for a
variety of projects

15. COMPOSITE OVERLAYS
FOR
BLAST RETROFITS

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

20. FRP benefit: ROI
Case Study
$18.5M D/B Renovation Project: “BEQ-26”
• San Diego based Navy barracks underwent renovation,
including seismic.
• Original plan called for shotcrete for strengthening.
• Through collaborative efforts, FRP was VE’d in its place
• Navy benefits:
• 60% less demolition (landfill)
• 50% less disruption
• no loss of square footage space
• Navy saved $500,000 and 9months (roughly a 36 mo
project)

21. Next steps
 Composites Global can meet with you or
your SE/architect to discuss FRP’s benefits
in more detail
– VE analysis
– Free consultation
 Information is available in CD or print form
 For projects already spec’d or on the street,
we are ready to do the work

22. Thank You
Composites Global
Steve Behrens
3723 Birch Street
Suite 19
Newport Beach, California 92660
714-926-8056 office/mobile
Email: steve@CompositesGlobal.com