Innovative Strengthening of Antwerp Zoo's Reptile Building

This paper discusses the new carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) strengthening system that has been developed, tested and applied successfully for the rehabilitation of the reptile building in the Zoo of Antwerp, Belgium. The system is based on multidirectional CFRP laminates that allow extra mechanical fixings such as bolts, and the use of balsa spacer elements to increase the lever arm between the CFRP tensile reinforcement and the compression zone. The adopted solution in this strengthening project allowed for a short execution time, limited cost, less nuisance for the surroundings, limited disruption in use, high bearing capacity with high factor of safety and high ratio between useful bearing capacity and dead weight of the composite structural system.