Reinforcing steel of the 21st century

Figure: Groz-Beckert

Textile revolution in construction 2.0: Pedestrian bridge in Albstadt made of textile-reinforced concrete with glass fiber composite as reinforcement

Figure: Groz-Beckert

Figure: V. Fraas Solutions in Textile GmbH

Textile-reinforced concrete with four layers of carbon fiber fabrics was used for a silo of Nordzucker AG; a total of approx. 14,000 m² of 2D textiles were used as well as 150 tons of fine concrete

Figure: V. Fraas Solutions in Textile GmbH

Figure: Uwe Manzke

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Chokri Cherif, Director of the Institute for Textile Machinery and Textile High Performance Materials Technology (ITM) at the Technical University in Dresden, describes the possibilities of textile designs in building construction

Figure: Uwe Manzke

Figure: ITM TU Dresden

The textile scientist from Dresden, Dr.-Ing. Ayham Younes, with multi-purpose floor element

Figure: ITM TU Dresden

Figure: V. Fraas Solutions in Textile GmbH

Improved life cycle assessment: As textile reinforcement does not corrode, the concrete cover has to be just a few millimeters thick reducing the overall weight and transport costs

Figure: V. Fraas Solutions in Textile GmbH

In the recent past, textile research also has developed numerous innovations for the construction sector. Textile reinforcement is said to replace conventional steel reinforcement for newly built buildings by about 20 % within the next ten years.

Rotten bridges, buildings in need of rehabilitation, out-dated appearance: In the eyes of many observers, Germany is dependent on care in structural terms owing to frequently inferior structural conditions not only concerning school buildings, railroad stations or swimming facilities. Weather and time relentlessly wear on reinforced concrete until the reinforcement corrodes, the concrete is spalling and cracking and the entire building component becomes unstable. In searching for alternatives for new buildings, rehabilitation and repair, the focus is directed on an industry that is already...