Structures often require strengthening where loading demands increase, deterioration reduces capacity, or performance requirements change. Freyssinet New Zealand delivers engineered strengthening solutions to restore or increase structural capacity, extend service life, and support continued asset use. Typical drivers include increased traffic loads (e.g. HPMV), change of use, durability-related degradation, or legacy design limitations.
Our Structural Strengthening Solutions
Strengthening approaches are selected based on structural demand, access constraints, and constructability, and typically include:
- External post-tensioning to introduce pre-compression and increase capacity
- Composite reinforcement systems to enhance flexural and shear performance
- Localised strengthening and section enhancement where required
External post-tensioning systems are used to increase load-carrying capacity by introducing controlled compressive forces into the structure.
This approach is particularly effective for bridges and large concrete elements, enabling capacity upgrades (including HPMV load requirements) with minimal intervention and limited disruption to operations.
High-performance composite systems, including carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CFRP), provide an efficient means of strengthening structural elements.
These lightweight systems increase flexural and shear capacity, improve durability, and can be installed with minimal impact on the existing structure, making them well suited to retrofit applications.
UHPC is used for structural strengthening where high strength, durability, and bond performance are required within constrained geometries.
Applications include jacketing and section enhancement of existing elements—such as prestressed bridge piles, where conventional methods are limited by access, durability, or constructability constraints. UHPC enables high-performance strengthening with reduced section thickness and improved long-term durability.