A design model for fibre reinforced concrete beams pre-stressed with steel and FRP bars

This paper presents a design oriented model to determine the moment-curvature relationship of elements of rectangular cross section failing in bending, made by strain softening or strain hardening fibre reinforced concrete (FRC) and reinforced with perfectly bonded pre-stressed steel and fibre reinforced polymeric (FRP) bars. Since FRP bars are not affected by corrosion, they have the minimum FRC cover thickness that guaranty proper bond conditions, while steel bars are positioned with a thicker FRC cover to increase their protection against corrosion. Using the moment-curvature relationship predicted by the model in an algorithm based on the virtual work method, a numerical strategy is adopted to evaluate the load-deflection response of statically determinate beams. The predictive performance of the proposed formulation is assessed by simulating the response of available experimental results. By using this model, a parametric study is carried out in order to evaluate the influence of the main parameters that characterize the post cracking behaviour of FRC, and the prestress level applied to FRP and steel bars, on the moment-curvature and load-deflection responses of this type of structural elements. Finally the shear resistance of this structural system is predictedThe study reported in this paper is part of the research program "DURCOST - Innovation in reinforcing systems for sustainable prefabricated structures of higher durability and enhanced structural performance" supported by FCT, PTDC/ECM/105700/2008. The second and forth authors acknowledge the research grant under the project QREN number 3456 "PONTALUMIS", while the third author acknowledges the support provided by FCT Grant SFRH/BD/71934/2010

Flexural Behaviour of Precast Aerated Concrete Panel (PACP) with Added Fibrous Material: An Overview

The usage of precast aerated concrete panel as an IBS system has become the main alternative to conventional construction system. The usage of this panel system contributes to a sustainable and environmental friendly construction. This paper presents an overview of the precast aerated concrete panel with added fibrous material (PACP). PACP is fabricated from aerated foamed concrete with added Polypropylene fibers (PP). The influence of PP on the mechanical properties of PACP are studied and reviewed from previous research. The structural behaviour of precast concrete panel subjected to flexure load is also reviewed. It is found that PP has significant affects on the concrete mixture’s compressive stregth, tensile strength and flexural strength. It is also found that PP manage to control the crack propagation in the concrete panel

Steel fibre reinforced concrete for elements failing in bending and in shear

Discrete steel fibres can increase significantly the bending and the shear resistance of concrete structural elements when Steel Fibre Reinforced Concrete (SFRC) is designed in such a way that fibre reinforcing mechanisms are optimized. To assess the fibre reinforcement effectiveness in shallow structural elements failing in bending and in shear, experimental and numerical research were performed. Uniaxial compression and bending tests were executed to derive the constitutive laws of the developed SFRC. Using a cross-section layered model and the material constitutive laws, the deformational behaviour of structural elements failing in bending was predicted from the moment-curvature relationship of the representative cross sections. To evaluate the influence of the percentage of fibres on the shear resistance of shallow structures, three point bending tests with shallow beams were performed. The applicability of the formulation proposed by RILEM TC 162-TDF for the prediction of the shear resistance of SFRC elements was evaluated. Inverse analysis was adopted to determine indirectly the values of the fracture mode I parameters of the developed SFRC. With these values, and using a softening diagram for modelling the crack shear softening behaviour, the response of the SFRC beams failing in shear was predicted.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Thermal and mechanical properties of hemp fabric-reinforced nanoclay-cement nano-composites

The influence of nanoclay on thermal and mechanical properties of hemp fabric-reinforced cement composite is presented in this paper. Results indicate that these properties are improved as a result of nanoclay addition. An optimum replacement of ordinary Portland cement with 1 wt% nanoclay is observed through improved thermal stability, reduced porosity and water absorption as well as increased density, flexural strength, fracture toughness and impact strength of hemp fabric-reinforced nanocomposite. The microstructural analyses indicate that the nanoclay behaves not only as a filler to improve the microstructure but also as an activator to promote the pozzolanic reaction and thus improve the adhesion between hemp fabric and nanomatrix

Flexural Analysis and Design of Textile Reinforced Concrete

A model is presented to use normalized multi-linear tension and compression material characteristics of strain-hardening textile reinforced concrete and derive closed form expressions for predicting moment-curvature capacity. A set of design equations are derived and simplified for use in spreadsheet based applications. The model is applicable for both strain-softening and strainhardening materials. The predictability of the simplified model is checked by model calibration and development of design charts for moment capacity and stress developed throughout the cross section of a flexural member. Model is calibrated by predicting the results of Alkali Resistant Glass and Polyethylene fabrics. A case for the flexural design of Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) specimen as a simply supported beam subjected to distributed load is used to demonstrate the design procedure

Influence of SFRC Layer on Deflections and Cracks of Composite RC Slab

This paper presents an experimental analysis of flexural capacity and deformability of structural concrete slabs prepared as composite members consisting of two concrete layers made of reinforced ordinary concrete (N) and fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC). The reinforced concrete composite slabs used in the tests were prepared in the dimensions of 600 x 1200 x 80 mm. The basis was composed of two layers consisting of SFRC, one as the top layer, and one as ordinary concrete. The results of the analysis confirm a significant improvement of structural properties of the composite slab in comparison to the slabs prepared wholly of ordinary concrete