6 - Durability of structures made of or strengthened using textile-reinforced concrete

Abstract

Textile-reinforced concrete (TRC) has great potential for application in structures exposed to severe mechanical or environmental loading. This chapter presents an overview of the current knowledge available on the durability of this composite and its components. An additional focus is centred on the protection of steel reinforcement, such as in the case of the strengthening or repair of reinforced concrete (RC) structures using TRC. In doing this, the transport properties of TRC in the cracked state, its long-term tensile strength and strain capacity and resistance to aggressive environments have been identified as critical parameters. Current knowledge indicates that TRC can exhibit over the long term high mechanical performance and favourable transport properties when cracked. While the superior resistance of TRC to aggressive environments is to be expected when compared to ordinary concrete, there is little information available on the effects of aggressive environments on the mechanical properties of the material. Since TRC is still a relatively new material, there is no information available on its long-term performance in the field. To be able to utilise the superior qualities of TRC fully, it will be necessary to develop a realistic and reliable performance-based durability design concept for structures made of or strengthened by TRC. This chapter provides a framework for such durability design.