| | Category | EN | P14 | Testing the Structural Integrity of Concrete Using Alternate Methods |
| | of Reinfo |
| | Abstract | Concrete is a hard and porous composite of cement, sand, aggregate, and |
| | gravel. Concrete cement is a very compressively strong material after |
| | proper component mixture and curing. It has a compressive strength 15 |
| | times greater than its tensile strength. Because of the lack of tensile |
| | strength, reinforcement is needed. |
| | |
| | Steel rebar is the most common method of reinforcement used in building |
| | concrete structures. Steel can rust and corrode over time and leave |
| | structures compromised. The purpose of this project is to test different |
| | methods of reinforcement to determine if there are plausible alternatives to |
| | steel rebar for the purpose of reinforcing concrete. |
| | |
| | It is believed that changing the method of reinforcement will also change |
| | the structural integrity of the concrete. Although steel rebar is the most |
| | widely used reinforcement, it is expected that the carbon fiber strip |
| | reinforcement will be stronger than the traditional rebar. |
| | |
| | After extensive testing it was found that the fiberglass was the weakest |
| | reinforcement used as it crumbled at an average force of 1220.79 N which |
| | was less than the unreinforced concrete. The steel rebar began cracking |
| | at an average force of 1675.90 N. The next strongest material was the |
| | steel mesh which cracked at an average force of 1724.08 N. The carbon |
| | fiber strips and threads both held up under the maximum capacity of my |
| | scale before breaking, therefore the force needed to crumble them is listed |
| | at the maximum of 500 lbs, 226.75 kg or 2223.66 N. |
| | |
| | The hypothesis was supported by the experimentation. The carbon fiber |
| | strips and the carbon fiber threads held up under the maximum force that |
| | could be measured, higher than any of the other materials being tested. |
| | Bibliography | Cridlebaugh, Bruce. "Bridge Basics". Bridges & Tunnels of Alleghany |
| | County and Pittsburgh, PA. 01/12/2010 <http://pghbridges.com/index.htm>. |
| | |
| | |
| | Cantell, Andrew. “Steel Rebar Reinforcement Corrosion in Concrete Bridge |
| | Design”. University of Washington. 01/10/2010 |
| | |
| | http://depts.washington.edu/matseed/mse_resources/Webpage/Steel%20 |
| | Reinforcement%20Corrosion/Bridge-Rebar%20Corrosion.htm. |
| | "Concrete Technology". Portland Cement Association. 01/15/2010 |
| | <http://www.cement.org/tech/index.asp>. |
| | |
| | “Concrete” Wikipedia. 01/12/10 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concrete. |
| | |
| | Fahl, Thomas P. Concrete Principles, 2nd edition. New York: American |
| | Technical Publishers, 2009. |
| | |
| | Aerospace Composite Products. Livermore, CA – Carbon Fiber Strips, |
| | Carbon Fiber Thread, Fiberglass Fabric. |