Experimental verification of innovative spatial reinforcement of ultra-high performance concrete with mesh tubes

• Published in: Cement & concrete composites Vol. 150; p. 105561
• Main Authors: Szcześniak, Anna, Stolarski, Adam
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2024
• Subjects: Concrete composites; Glass fibres; Mesh tubes; Spatial reinforcement of concrete; Ultra-high performance concrete; Glass fibres; Concrete composites; Ultra-high performance concrete; Mesh tubes; Spatial reinforcement of concrete
• ISSN: 0958-9465; 1873-393X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2024.105561

The article presents the concept of innovative spatial concrete reinforcement, consisting of a new, patented reinforcement system with mesh tubes. The concept of spatial reinforcement is a proposal for homogenization of composite concrete structures, which in a unique and very effective way allows the use of reinforcing material in the form of an ordered structure of glass fibres. A comparative analysis was carried of the test results of concrete composite samples reinforced with mesh tubes made of high-strength glass fibre, with the results on concrete samples without reinforcement and on fibre concrete samples containing an equivalent amount of glass fibres of two different lengths, made of the same type of glass fibre as the mesh tubes. Base concrete with ultra-high performance properties was used for the tests. Experimental tests concerned the strength and deformation properties of the composites, i.e. compressive strength, direct tensile strength and splitting tensile strength, and secant modulus of elasticity in compression. Beam models were also tested in a four-point bending test, which made it possible to determine the load-carrying capacity, flexural strength and analyse the cracking and failure mechanism. Comparative analysis of the experimental results showed the high effectiveness of the proposed spatial reinforcement of concrete with glass fibre mesh tubes. The use of spatial reinforcement resulted in an increase in compressive strength, direct tensile and splitting tensile strength by 5 %, 29 %, 27 % respectively, compared to fibre concrete. However, the load-carrying capacity of the spatially reinforced beam was 85 % higher compared to the fibre concrete beam.