Task Group B – Durability of Strain Hardening Fiber-Reinforced Cement-Based composites, SHCC – Conclusions

Title: Task Group B – Durability of Strain Hardening Fiber-Reinforced Cement-Based composites, SHCC – Conclusions
Author(s): Folker H. Wittmann, Gideon P. A. G. van Zijl
Paper category : conference
Book title: International RILEM Workshop on High Performance Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Composites in Structural Applications
Editor(s): G. Fischer and V. C. Li
Print-ISBN: 2-912143-93-4
e-ISBN: 2912143942
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2006
Pages: 109 - 114
Total Pages: 6
Nb references: 11
Language: English

Abstract: Maintenance cost of reinforced concrete (R/C) structures has been growing steadily, to the current significant portion of total construction industry expenditure. The annual direct cost of maintenance of bridges in the US exceeds $ 8 billion. US drivers pay more than $ 54 billion annually in addition for vehicle repair and operating cost (ASCE report 2005). Forty percent of the German infrastructure needs repair measures. There, the average intervention-free service life is reported to be 18.5 years, which does not compare well with Roman bridges, which had service lives of 2000 years, e.g. a Roman bridge in Augusta Treverorum, Trier. Roughly fifty percent of the total expenditure for construction is needed for maintenance and repair in many industrial countries.
This situation motivates great care when developing new construction materials, such as strain hardening fibre-reinforced cement-based composites (SHCC). In the first place such materials should inherently be durable, and in addition contribute to more durable structures. In this regard SHCC in particular presents a strong potential, by the very nature of pseudo strain hardening, which physically is controlled micro-crack formation. It is argued that this potential of SHCC is put under the spotlight in the research efforts towards characterizing and improving the durability of these materials.

Online publication: 2005-05-15
Classification: Durability
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00
doi: 10.1617/2912143942.012