Software for Architecture, Engineering and Construction

CYPE has developed with SIKA®, a leading company for the development of chemicals for waterproofing, bonding, dampening, reinforcing and protecting structures, a software tool called SIKA® CarboDur® Design Software with which professionals can automatically carry out the analysis of a structural reinforcement project using the different carbon fibre solutions offered by the Swiss company, for specific international standards.

The use of carbon fibre for structures is a solution based on a non-metallic polymer which is three to five times lighter than steel and with six times more strength resistance. Its durability and high resistance make it a very qualified material to provide security in construction projects and integrity to structures.

As explained by Carlos Fernandez, Technical Director of CYPE, this construction solution is used when the project engineer has to carry out a modification in a building by repairing or reinforcing the structure due to different reasons such as "errors in its construction or design, increase in loads and capacity due to a change in use, regulation modifications, all especially in rehabilitation and expansion projects". Carlos Fernandez explains that these carbon fibre bands are placed in reinforced concrete columns, beams, floor slabs and walls, and are ideally suited to withstand increases in axial forces, bending moments and shears in the indicated structural elements.

Furthermore, as stressed by the Technical Director of CYPE, this construction solution "is minimally invasive, which makes it an ideal technique for heritage works by providing an aesthetic cover that goes unnoticed". Specifically, Carlos Fernandez explains that "carbon fibre materials as structural reinforcements are lighter and stronger compared to steel, as well as being easier and faster to install, and more cost efficient compared to traditional solutions".

The newly developed software meets one of the requests of the designers who use this type of solutions, and can now analyse this technique in a simple and automatic way thanks to the software created by CYPE and SIKA®. This CYPE software is currently adapted to the American Concrete Institute (ACI440.2R-08) standard of America which is also used in other countries in Asia. CYPE has also adapted this software to the SIA 166 standard of Switzerland and the TR-55 British standard, which is based on Eurocode 2.

As for adapting the software to different standards, Carlos Fernandez explains that regarding the use of carbon fibre solutions for structures "there are many countries which, like Spain, have no specific standard", and so emphasises, that the collaboration between CYPE and SIKA® provides for the adaptation of this software to countries with specific standards of this construction solution and, at present, are already studying the introduction of new standards to SIKA® CarboDur® Design Software, in accordance with SIKA's priorities in the more than 90 countries in which it sells its products.

CYPE develops international SIKA® software for calculating carbon fibre reinforcements in structures

The new CYPE tool has been implemented for the North American ACI 440.R2-08 standard, the Swiss SIA 166 standard and the British TR-55 standard. It allows for an intuitive and easy design solution of lighter and more resistant structural reinforcement than steel.