Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • ELECTRONICS • ELECTRICAL
    • Fastening • joining
    • FLUID POWER
    • LINEAR MOTION
    • MOTION CONTROL
    • SENSORS
    • TEST & MEASUREMENT
    • Factory automation
    • Warehouse automation
    • DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
  • Learn
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Learning center
    • eBooks • Tech Tips
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars • general engineering
    • Webinars • Automated warehousing
    • Voices
  • LEAP Awards
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guides
  • Resources
    • Subscribe
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Educational Assets
    • Engineering diversity
    • Trends
  • Supplier Listings
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Concrete Pillars Use Stick-On Wraps to Extend Structure’s Lifespan

By Tierney King | April 11, 2019

Concrete pillars may be able to take comfort from stick-on wraps in order to prevent further cracking and extend a structure’s lifespan. Developed by the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU), and JTC, these ready-to-stick wraps help repair concrete structures.

The new technology could be fundamental for urban cities to rehabilitate their older structures, such as buildings and bridges that may have cracks and delamination.

Called FasRaP, short for Fast Wrapping Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP), the material was designed by scientists and engineers from NTU, JTC, and Prostruct Consulting Pte Ltd.

“By combining our engineering knowledge, NTU’s research expertise and Prostruct’s industry know-how, we can address real challenges faced by the construction industry such as manpower constraints and quality control,” says Calvin Chung, group director of Engineering at JTC. “The development of new advanced materials such as FasRaP will help us meet the growing demand for the repair and rehabilitation of ageing infrastructure in Singapore by significantly reducing the time and improving the quality of installation, thereby increasing productivity and cost efficiency.”

FasRaP is made from commercially available glass fibers, but with fibers that have a glue-like resin developed by NTU materials scientists. This allows the material to act like a “bandage” to a structure.

The resin will only harden if exposed to light, so FasRaP could be applied in the factory and packaged into a ready roll of sticky wrap, similar to double-sided tape.

Once brought to an on-site location, FasRaP can be directly applied on a wall or pillar. A total of three workers are needed to apply the wrap. Compared to FRPs currently available in the market, which usually require a team of up to six, this new method could provide an easier solution.

“Our invention allows companies to save on manpower costs, increase efficiency and make structural reinforcement much easier to execute,” says Associate Professor Ng Kee Woei, lead project investigator from NTU’s School of Materials Science and Engineering. “This will help them to meet future building standards and prolong the life of older buildings and structures as Singapore and other urban cities age.”

Prefabricating FasRaP with resin glue in the factory also means the quality will be consistently reliable, since conditions can be better controlled in the factory.

FasRaP has undergone industry-standard blast tests and load tests and has proved to be just as strong as conventional FRP. When comparing a bare concrete pillar with one that was wrapped with FasRaP, tests indicate the wrapped pillar can withstand an additional 80 percent load.

Dr. Ang Choon Keat, founder of Prostruct Consulting Pte Ltd, a specialist professional engineer and certified blast consultant, was involved in the project and says, “Besides reinforcing existing structures, we have also conducted blast tests and demonstrated that FasRaP is suitable for strengthening any structure against blasts. This is an important application in view of the Infrastructure Protection Act passed by the Singapore Parliament in October 2017.”

Currently, the joint research team hopes to commercialize their product, and are talking with manufacturers of FRPs and industry contractors to accelerate the adoption of FasRaP.

You Might Also Like


Filed Under: Materials • advanced, MOTION CONTROL

 

LEARNING CENTER

Design World Learning Center
“dw
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for Design Engineering Professionals.
Motor University

Design World Digital Edition

cover

Browse the most current issue of Design World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading design engineering magazine today.

EDABoard the Forum for Electronics

Top global problem solving EE forum covering Microcontrollers, DSP, Networking, Analog and Digital Design, RF, Power Electronics, PCB Routing and much more

EDABoard: Forum for electronics

Sponsored Content

  • Sustainability, Innovation and Safety, Central to Our Approach
  • Why off-highway is the sweet spot for AC electrification technology
  • Looking to 2025: Past Success Guides Future Achievements
  • North American Companies Seek Stronger Ties with Italian OEMs
  • Adapt and Evolve
  • Sustainable Practices for a Sustainable World
View More >>
Engineering Exchange

The Engineering Exchange is a global educational networking community for engineers.

Connect, share, and learn today »

Design World
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Manage your Design World Subscription
  • Subscribe
  • Design World Digital Network
  • Control Engineering
  • Consulting-Specifying Engineer
  • Plant Engineering
  • Engineering White Papers
  • Leap Awards

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • ELECTRONICS • ELECTRICAL
    • Fastening • joining
    • FLUID POWER
    • LINEAR MOTION
    • MOTION CONTROL
    • SENSORS
    • TEST & MEASUREMENT
    • Factory automation
    • Warehouse automation
    • DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
  • Learn
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Learning center
    • eBooks • Tech Tips
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars • general engineering
    • Webinars • Automated warehousing
    • Voices
  • LEAP Awards
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guides
  • Resources
    • Subscribe
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Educational Assets
    • Engineering diversity
    • Trends
  • Supplier Listings
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
We use cookies to personalize content and ads, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. We share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising, and analytics partners who may combine it with other information you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use this website.OkNoRead more