Basalt FRP Spike Repairing of Wood Beams
This article describes aspects within an experimental program aimed at improving the structural performance of cracked solid fir-wood beams repaired with Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer (BFRP) spikes. Fir wood is characterized by its low density, low compression strength, and high level of defects, and it is likely to distort when dried and tends to fail under tension due to the presence of cracks, knots, or grain deviation. The proposed repair technique consists of the insertion of BFRP spikes into timber beams to restore the continuity of cracked sections. The experimental efforts deal with the evaluation of the bending strength and deformation properties of 24 timber beams. An artificially simulated cracking was produced by cutting the wood beams in half or notching. The obtained results for the repaired beams were compared with those of solid undamaged and damaged beams, and increases of beam capacity, bending strength and of modulus of elasticity, and analysis of failure modes was discussed. For notched beams, the application of the BFRP spikes was able to restore the original bending capacity of undamaged beams, while only a small part of the original capacity was recovered for beams that were cut in half.
Ángel alado del Panteón familiar Pau-Simó (Cementerio General de Valencia). Casuística de deterioro y tratamiento restaurativo
El presente trabajo muestra una parte del complejo tratamiento de restauración llevado a cabo en el ilustre Panteón de la familia Pau (1895), situado en el Cementerio General de Valencia. El panteón está atribuido al arquitecto Gerardo Roig i Gimeno y posee unas medidas de 3,90 x 7,85 x 4,2 m. Concretamente, la figura escultórica del ángel alado objeto de esta intervención está tallada en mármol estatuario de Carrara y, del conjunto de daños identificados, la presencia de grietas en la parte trasera representaba el deterioro más destacado, el cual comprometía su estética y estabilidad estructural. Con el fin de dar solución a los daños, se aplicaron una serie de estrategias centradas en, a) desmontaje de las alas; b) limpieza fisicoquímica; c) consolidación; d) tratamiento del volumen, cosidos, sellados, desarrollo de espigas híbridas piedra-fibra de vidrio y montaje de las alas; e) protección; y, f) plan de mantenimiento. El trabajo presentado pone de relieve la operación desarrollada, con un enfoque mínimamente invasivo, lo que permitió recuperar la estabilidad estructural ante el inminente estado de colapso en el que se hallaba la pieza.
TESTING METHODS TO DETERMINE PROPERTIES OF FIBER REINFORCED PLASTIC PANELS USED FOR REINFORCING GLULAMS
The use of fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) panels to reinforce wood and wood composites, particularly glued laminated timber (glulam), has gained acceptance by the wood industry recently. The reinforced glulam exhibits substantial advantages in its structural and economical performance. The FRP used in the glulam reinforcement is in thin panel form with a thickness of 0.05–0.095 in. It is composed of 100% unidirectional high modulus fibers, such as aramids, carbon, or fiberglass. The fibers are embedded in a thermosetting plastic matrix in either pure or hybrid form. The fiber to resin ratio is approximately 66% by volume. Physical, mechanical, and durability properties are the most interesting properties for practice engineers and manufacturers to know. To select appropriate test methods for the evaluation of these properties is crucial for the ensuring of accurate design values. The intention of this paper is to provide a rational model for other engineers, researchers, and manufacturers to use in bringi...