Title:
SP-250: Textile Reinforced Concrete
Author(s):
Editor: Ashish Dubey / Sponsored by: ACI Committee 549
Publication:
Symposium Paper
Volume:
250
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
160
Keywords:
DOI:
10.14359/19726
Date:
3/1/2008
Abstract:
Textile-reinforced concrete (TRC) is a high-performance composite material in which technical textiles composed of high-performance reinforcement fibers are embedded in a cementitious matrix. The technical textiles used in TRC are continuous reinforcement composed of a variety of materials such as alkali-resistant glass, carbon, aramid, and polymeric fibers. The continuous textile reinforcement provides enhanced tensile strength, ductility, and other features to the finished TRC composites. The TRC composites tend to be slender, lightweight, and capable of being designed into complex geometrical shapes and configurations. Thin TRC elements are also effective in retrofitting and strengthening existing weak and dilapidated concrete structures. Consequently, the use of TRC continues to grow very rapidly worldwide in a variety of applications. The material science and technology of textile reinforcement and cementitious matrix used for producing TRC composites is advancing rapidly, and is an active area of research and development in both academia and industry.
This symposium publication contains papers originally presented in a symposium on TRC sponsored by ACI Committee 549 during the ACI Fall 2005 Convention in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. The symposium explored the current state-of-the-art and recent advances in material science, mechanical behavior, production methods, and practical applications of TRC. Important topics covered in this publication include material science and technology of textile reinforcement and cementitious matrix used in TRC, design methods for TRC, structural behavior of TRC, applications of TRC, production methods of TRC, and numerical modeling of TRC composites. The papers presented in this publication have been peer reviewed by the experts in the field according to the guidelines established by the American Concrete Institute.
It should be emphasized that the future of TRC depends largely on its ability to compete cost effectively with the existing and other alternate emerging technologies. Because TRC is an emerging technology in itself, considerable research and development efforts are needed on various fronts to make the art viable and acceptable to end users and the industry. Significant research efforts are required to develop textile reinforcements that are strong, durable, processable, and economical. It is also crucial that research efforts be made to develop cement-based matrixes that have good compatibility and durability characteristics with the textile reinforcements involved. Further research and development efforts are also necessary to develop new processing methods for producing TRC composites efficiently and cost effectively.