Approaches for Shapeable Textile Reinforcements for Concrete Applications: Development and Validation
摘要
Textile-reinforced concrete (TRC) is a cutting-edge material in the construction industry, combining the benefits of high-performance technical textiles with the strength and durability of concrete. Despite its potential, the widespread implementation of TRC has been hindered by process-related limitations, particularly in the shapeability of the material during construction. Addressing this challenge, our study explores two innovative textile-based approaches designed to enhance the form flexibility of TRC reinforcements. The first approach involves the use of a polymer impregnation with delayed curing (prepreg-approach). This method allows the textiles to be shaped and fixed in the desired form before the curing process is completed within the concrete, enabling novel production methods like concrete folding. The second approach utilizes post-impregnation energy-induced forming (organosheet-approach). In this approach, the textile is impregnated with a thermoplastic material, allowing for shaping using the local application of heat. Both approaches offer greater control over the final geometry of the reinforcement and enable more complex shapes and designs compared to conventional textile grid reinforcements. In this study, both approaches are comprehensively evaluated from mechanical and techno-economic perspectives. Mechanical validation focuses on the shapeability of the reinforcements and the composite properties. The techno-economic assessment examines the cost-effectiveness and scalability of these methods.