Researchers from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have developed a new method that simplifies the construction of sustainable textile-reinforced concrete structures.
This move is expected to lead to the construction of more environmentally friendly bridges, tunnels and buildings.
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Cement, which is used as a binder in concrete, is produced from limestone that releases stored carbon dioxide (CO₂) during production.
Worldwide annual cement production is noted to have reached 4.5 billion tonnes, contributing to 8% of global CO₂ emissions.
Textile reinforcement, using carbon fibre textiles instead of steel, is said to offer a solution by allowing for the creation of lighter structures with a reduced carbon footprint.
The researchers have published a paper titled Textile reinforced concrete members subjected to tension, bending, and in-plane loads: Experimental study and numerical analyses.
The study, recently published in the Construction and Building Materials journal, details a new modelling technique developed by Karin Lundgren and her team.
Lundgren is a Concrete Structures professor at Chalmers Department of Architecture.
Lundgren said: “A great deal of the concrete we use today has the function to act as a protective layer to prevent the steel reinforcement from corroding. If we can use textile reinforcement instead, we can reduce cement consumption and also use less concrete – and thus reduce the climate impact.”
The research is being supported by the Swedish Research Council and represents a collaboration between Chalmers University of Technology and Gdansk University of Technology in Poland.
