New Systems for Sustainable Strengthening and Service Life Extension of Existing Structures

Over the past 10 years, the authors have developed a whole toolbox of methods for strengthening existing structures. Two methods have proven to be particularly effective. One is the use of concrete screw anchors, which can be inserted into concrete cross-sections as post-installed reinforcement and can thus replace missing shear and punching reinforcement in particular. Secondly, the use of thin, textile-reinforced concrete layers that can be applied to existing structures to reinforce the load-bearing capacity for bending, shear and torsional loads. The effectiveness of the reinforcement methods was evaluated in numerous experimental and numerical tests. This has led to technical approvals by the building authorities of the reinforcement systems in 2019. Thus, these methods are now available for a broad application in practice. The article discusses the effectiveness of the reinforcement methods on the basis of research results, but above all on the basis of pilot projects carried out. It can be shown that by the enhancement of life time of existing structures by these methods a huge impact on CO2-reduction can be reached.