Control of Cracking in Textile Reinforced Concrete with Unresin Carbon Fibers

Textile reinforced concrete (TRC) is an emerging construction material with interesting potential concerning sustainability, providing corrosion-free and lightweight solutions. Ordinarily, fiber bundles, impregnated with resin, are used. In this research the performance of reinforcement with unresin fibers is investigated. Control of cracking is considered the key performance factor and is assessed through tensile testing. However, economic and environmental aspects are addressed as well. Then, four different mixes/matrices were considered, without the addition of special/expensive admixtures. TRC ties were subject to direct tension tests, with load and deformation monitoring to assess the influence of mechanical reinforcement ratio on the cracking, failure and toughness of these composites, as well as of the matrix properties on the maximum load. It was observed that at a macro-level TRC behaves like conventional reinforced concrete, concerning crack control. Based on the maximum loads attained at the different composites, it was found that this particular TRC is economically viable. It is suggested that matrix workability may influence the maximum load.