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1.INTRODUCTION
Steel is one of the most popular and widely accepted construction
material in R.C.C. construction. With the help of this material only, it has become
possible to span large distances, construct huge hydraulic & nuclear structures, building
frames etc. Till today it is the prime material through which designer put forward his
ideas in to practices. Not withstands its admirable qualities such as easy availability, low
cost, high strength, formability, ease in handling, transporting and errection etc, it has one
significant drawback i.e., it’s susceptibility to environmental attack reverting the steel to
it’s natural oxide state i.e. corrosion of steel. Corrosion is a complex electro-chemical
process which expands the steel several times of its original volume and thus leads to
reduction in strength of steel, bond failure, slippage of steel, spalling of the concrete and
deterioration of concrete structures. The most common reason for early degradation,
deterioration and disintegration of a concrete structural member is the corrosion of
reinforcing steel. Due to corrosion of steel large numbers of bridges and other R.C.C.
concrete structures are becoming structurally defective or functionally obsolete requiring
costly maintenance, repairs rehabilitation and retrofitting of structures. It is estimated
than in India yearly the loss caused by the corrosion related damages amounted to several
crores of rupees, about five to six percent of GNP. Though the Engineers try to tackle
this problem by using noncorrosive reinforcement mostly by epoxy coated steel bars but
the permanent solution still evades them.
Because of these problems with steel, engineers have often wished for an
ideal material which will be stronger, corrosion resistant, withstand extreme
environmental conditions, light weight, high fatigue strength, easy to handle than the
conventional steel. Also the modern science and technology are advancing so fast and
becoming so sophisticated that the materials have to be correspondingly efficient,
effective, high performancable, reliable, with exceptional environmental requirements for
specific use. The conventional material i.e. steel will not be capable of meeting these
demands. The recent developments in the field of Advanced composite materials
(ACMs) has enabled in development of very efficient and effective alternative to steel
bars and cables. These ACMs are unaffected by electro chemical deterioration and resists
corrosive actions due to environmental attacks. Moreover ACMs can be used in many
forms (like bars, plates, cables, wraps etc ). ACMs plates can be used in concrete
members at a face to increase the tension capacity of members ( i.e. for retrofitting ),
whereas ACMs bars as a reinforcement in beams and slabs replacing the conventional
steel bars. It can also be used as cables, tendons in bridges. ACMs Wraps can be used as
retrofitting material around concrete members to improve their strength. This papers
presents a comprehensive review of recent advances in ACMs, their characteristic
properties and their application replacing the steel in Civil engineering structures.
i) Carbon/Graphite Fibers
It has been reported that ACM reinforced bar behave in the same manner as that
of steel bars in the slabs and beams1. Due to their less young’s modulus deflection was
considered as a limiting criteria in case of ACM reinforced beams. In slabs ACM bars
are used as reinforcement in the form of composite grids, when compared with steel grid,
the maximum load supported by slab reinforced with ACM grid was observed to equal or
more than slab reinforced with steel grid2. Slabs when reinforced with 3-D continuous
carbon fiber and loaded exhibited non linear behavior and reduction in stiffness in post
cracking stage3.
Kajima-FRC reported a type of composite concrete called 3R-FRC in
which 3-D fabric, made by weaving the fiber rovings in three direction is impregnated by
epoxy and cured, and is employed as main reinforcement. The fiber is a hybrid of PAN
based carbon, aramid and vinylon fibers. NEFMAC is also a kind of composite
reinforcement for concrete. A hybrid of continuous carbon, glass and aramid fibers is
impregnated with resin and formed into mesh enabling thinner section of concrete to be
used.
4 COST ECONOMICS
In general composite products for main reinforcement of concrete, cables
and tendons are more expensive than steel on the basis of weight for weight thereby
prohibiting use of ACMs extensively in structural applications. However weight is not
logical basis for cost comparisons. A more rational basis should be strength. The
corrosion resistance, nonmagnetic properties, low electrical conductivity, weather
durability, light weight and other properties of ACM’s may play an important role for
engineers to select ACM reinforcement instead of conventional steel. If the cost of
corrosion rehabilitation and repairs of R.C.C. structures is to be considered, ACMs cost
could be comparable with steel. With the increase amount of usage, adopting a good
design scheme, increase opportunities for application, sophistication in technology the
cost of ACMs will be decreased considerably in future.
5.CONCLUSION
Considering ACMs properties it can be said that ACMs are very effective
and efficient and attractive alternative to reinforcing steel bars, cables and tendons.
ACMs are being considered in several developed countries as a potential construction
material in place of steel. Some of ACMs have been successfully applied to bridges and
other structures. It can be hoped that day is not very far when ACMs will become good
substitute for steel, tendons and cables in respect of both performances and price.
6.REFERENCES:
1) Brown V.L and C.L. Batholomew (1993). Fibre reinforced bar in reinforced concrete members. ACI
materials Journal 90( 1); 34-39
2) Banthia N.M. AL. Aslay and S.Ma (1995), Behavior of concrete slabs reinforced with fibers plastic grid
ASCE Journal of materials in CIVIL Engg.
3) Ahmad S.H.P. zia, T.J. Yu and Y Xie (1994) punching shear test of slab reinforced with 3D carbon Fiber
fabric . ACI concrete International design and construction .
4) KIM P and U.Meier (1991) CFRP cables for large structures , Advanced composite materials in civil
engineering structures proceedings Las Vagus.
5) Abhijit Mukherjee (1997) Application of Fiber reinforced polymer composite in repair and strengthening
of structures. International conference on maintenance and durability of concrete structures Hyderabad
proceedings.
6) V.Ramakrishanan (1993) Recent Advancements in concrete Fiber composites. International symposium
of innovative world of concrete (ICI-IWI-93) .
7) Baidar Bhakht, Leslie Jaeger, Aftab Mufti, Plastic bridges. Architectural journal .
8. D.H.Kim, composite structures for civil and Architectural Engineering.
9. Dr.P. Mitra, Advanced composites, plastic vision India 1992.
10. J.E. Sumevak, Pultrusion an Expanding Technology.
Date :
To,
Mr. P.C. Sharma
Editor
New Building Materials and
Construction World,
165, Jullena, Adj. Escort Heart Institute
NEW DELHI – 110 025