Production of a textile reinforced concrete protective layers with non-woven polypropylene fabric

Flexural performance of wire mesh and geotextile-strengthened reinforced concrete beam

“…Meanwhile, textile-reinforced concrete layer is used in strengthening of existing load bearing structure because it efficiently increases the tensile strength and deformability of RC structures and reduces cracks width [10]. Geotextiles consist of synthetic fibers, such as polypropylene (75%), polyester (20%), polythene, or in other combination [11].…”

“…Nonwoven polypropylene fibers have high tensile strength, which can influence the flexural performance along with additional resistance to adverse environmental effect [12]. Because, nonwoven geotextile (polypropylene fabric)-reinforced concrete reduces water penetration into the RC structure when used as a protective layer [10]. Textiles are needed along the high bending moment zone in RCBs with additional anchorage length to be strengthened in flexure [13].…”

“…These materials are cost-effective and locally available in rural areas worldwide, thereby lowering the construction equipment cost and are thus genuinely sustainable. This system of additional protection layer can be used in retrofitting bridge pillars and in waterproof and outdoor structures [10]. The improvement of energy absorption capacity, toughness, and ductility are also observed after using a textile-reinforced layer in concrete structures [12].…”

“…Thus, grain size below 0.1 mm is recommended for cementitious matrix for attaching the nonwoven geotextile to the concrete structure. According to Zak et al [10], who found the maximum infiltration of cementitious matrix when its maximum grain size was limited to 0.25 mm. If the mix is compacted through mechanical vibration, then further anchorage would be produced through the infiltration of the cementitious mix, with the fibers in geotextile and concrete, thereby producing an average of 20% improvement in bonding strength [10,14].…”

“…According to Zak et al [10], who found the maximum infiltration of cementitious matrix when its maximum grain size was limited to 0.25 mm. If the mix is compacted through mechanical vibration, then further anchorage would be produced through the infiltration of the cementitious mix, with the fibers in geotextile and concrete, thereby producing an average of 20% improvement in bonding strength [10,14]. Given the low elastic modulus of polypropylene fiber, geotextile fabric reinforcing cannot improve the post cracking characteristics of brittle structures, which results in strain softening in cement composites [12].…”