Textile Reinforced Concrete. A novel, lightweight and shapeable material

Abstract

Engineers of the Technische Universität (TU) Dres¬den and the Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hoch-schule (RWTH) Aachen, Germany, have been researching textile reinforced concrete at the Collaborative Research Centres (SFBs) 528 and 532, funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), for more than 12 years.Textile reinforced concrete is increasingly turning into a viable option as a building material for both extraordinary and common structures on an economical and technical level. Textile reinforced concrete is especially suited for concrete components in need of repair, strengthening and maintenance. The following article introduces the new building material, its components and properties and demonstrates the first experience with practical applications in the field of sustainability and slender lightweight concrete structures.