Experimental evaluation of the durability of glass Textile-Reinforced concrete

Abstract

Textile reinforced concrete (TRC) is a promising alternative to conventional steel-reinforced systems, especially for slender, lightweight structural and nonstructural applications. One of the critical parameters to be accounted for in the design of these composites is their long-term mechanical performance, especially the reduction in tensile capacity with time. This paper looks at the influence of aging on the response of textiles and composites with AR- and E-glass fibers. Six coated glass textiles were exposed to three alkaline solutions with different pH ranges. Accelerated aging of the composites with these textiles was carried out with the hot water immersion method at 50 °C, and the reductions in tensile strength are compared with the results from the natural aging of composites over 4 years. Two matrices were used in the studies to identify the improvements due to lower water/binder ratio and matrix porosity. The change in the morphology of fibers and coating after exposure is discussed with observations from scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The type and extent of textile coating have a profound influence on the residual strength of the composite. The composites with higher strength matrix showed better retention of strength. The trend of degradation in alkaline exposure, accelerated and natural aging is discussed with the comparison of the deterioration mechanism observed from microstructural studies in each case.