Title:
Shear Capacity of TRC slabs: Modelling and Examples from Practice
Author(s):
Jan Bielak, Norbert Will, Josef Hegger, and Sven Bosbach
Publication:
Symposium Paper
Volume:
345
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
16-31
Keywords:
bridges, carbon concrete composite, design provisions, shear, shear span, size effect, textilereinforced concrete (TRC)
DOI:
10.14359/51731568
Date:
2/1/2021
Abstract:
Textile-reinforced concrete (TRC) combines high-performance fabrics made of impregnated carbon
yarns with state-of-the-art high strength concrete. Due to the corrosion resistance of non-metallic reinforcement,
the application of TRC for external components especially with freeze-thaw and de-icing salt exposure is
promising. This allows for reduction of concrete cover, to create slender structural elements and to execute thin
slabs without additional waterproofing or protective decking. Different existing theoretical models and experience
from various research projects were used in design of several pedestrian- and road bridges in Germany. The
pedestrian bridges in Rems Valley and Ottenhöfen use TRC slabs without shear reinforcement as transversal loadbearing
component. For the road bridges in Gaggenau, skew slabs made of TRC with shear reinforcement were
chosen as principal structural system. Prior and during construction, experimental investigations on shear capacity
were performed at the Institute of Structural Concrete (IMB) of RWTH Aachen. A comprehensive
characterization of the material properties of the non-metallic reinforcement is a prerequisite for transfer and
adaption of existing design rules, e.g. the determination of tensile strength of the bent portion of pre-formed shear
reinforcement. This paper highlights the application potential and further challenges for the use of textilereinforced
concrete in new engineering constructions.