12 - Textile-reinforced concrete: Selected case studies

Abstract

Due to its specific properties, textile-reinforced concrete (TRC) can be used for purposes ranging from the repair of existing structures to new loadbearing constructions such as light-weight pedestrian bridges and car-ports or for self-supporting constructions, like façades. Further fields of application include the strengthening of structures, the repair of sewage plants, the construction of heating systems with carbon reinforcement and the production of furniture. Because of the high tensile strength and the non-corrosiveness of textiles, such as carbon fibers, TRC can be much thinner than steel-reinforced concrete. This makes TRC lighter, reduces the transportation costs for prefabrication and, in addition, conserves resources. Also, the environmental impact, expressed as CO2 equivalent, is decreased. Additionally, TRC has a higher crack distribution ability than steel–concrete. When it cracks, the crack distribution is finer; therefore the cracks are thinner, allowing TRC to create durable and water-resistant surfaces suitable for the repair of building structures. Because TRC is a relatively new composite material, it has both great potential and a few challenges. The confluence of these factors and attributes makes textile reinforcement not only a potential solution for many structural difficulties, but also an important topic for current and future civil engineering research. This chapter addresses selected case studies of new building structures with TRC, repair and strengthening of building structures as well as future applications of TRC. TRC is not yet officially regulated in standards, so each loadbearing building structure must be approved on a case-by-case basis. However, TRC has already shown its performance and reliability in various pilot projects.