Reinforced Concrete with Textiles (TRC) - A new research line
Textile Reinforced Concrete (TRC) refers to the use of various mesh types as a partial or complete substitute for conventional steel bar reinforcement in concrete. These meshes can be rigid or flexible, configured in various designs with different spans, and made from different materials. The most advantageous option in this regard is the use of composite material meshes with a polymeric matrix and fibers, which can be made from various materials such as glass, basalt, carbon, bio-based materials, etc. The use of such materials helps avoid corrosion issues associated with metallic reinforcement.
The primary advantage of using this type of reinforcement is the ability to produce very thin concrete elements, as the meshes have a reduced thickness and, if not made of steel, require minimal covering to ensure durability. Manufacturing thin concrete elements has technical, economic, and environmental benefits. On one hand, they occupy less surface area and space, reducing transportation-related impacts. On the other hand, they are lighter, more manageable, and therefore safer. In summary, the use of textile-reinforced concrete elements contributes to the development of industrialized construction and the reduction of the carbon footprint in the sector.
Some specific applications of textile-reinforced concrete include solid panels, sandwich panels with a concrete skin, pavements, pipes, tanks, and other curved and warped structures. Additionally, high-strength textile-reinforced concrete can be used to enhance structures' resistance to impact, dynamic conditions, and seismic events.
Despite the mentioned advantages and potential applications, this technology is still in development, and experiences in construction as well as references in regulations for this product are scarce.
Therefore, at CTCON, we have strongly committed to this research line and have already begun conducting laboratory-scale tests. Furthermore, we hope to undertake new projects in the short term to verify its viability on a larger scale.
