Shear Capacity of TRC slabs: Modelling and Examples from Practice

摘要

Textile-reinforced concrete (TRC) combines high-performance fabrics made of impregnated carbon yarns with state-of-the-art high strength concrete. Due to the corrosion resistance of non-metallic reinforcement, the application of TRC for external components especially with freeze-thaw and de-icing salt exposure is promising. This allows for reduction of concrete cover, to create slender structural elements and to execute thin slabs without additional waterproofing or protective decking. Different existing theoretical models and experience from various research projects were used in design of several pedestrian- and road bridges in Germany. The pedestrian bridges in Rems Valley and Ottenhofen use TRC slabs without shear reinforcement as transversal load-bearing component. For the road bridges in Gaggenau, skew slabs made of TRC with shear reinforcement were chosen as principal structural system. Prior and during construction, experimental investigations on shear capacity were performed at the Institute of Structural Concrete (IMB) of RWTH Aachen. A comprehensive characterization of the material properties of the non-metallic reinforcement is a prerequisite for transfer and adaption of existing design rules, e.g. the determination of tensile strength of the bent portion of pre-formed shear reinforcement. This paper highlights the application potential and further challenges for the use of textile-reinforced concrete in new engineering constructions.