TRANSPORT OF LIQUIDS AND GASES THROUGH TEXTILE REINFORCED CONCRETE

In this study water absorption as well as gas and water permeability tests were performed on specimens made of textile reinforced concrete (TRC). The main parameters were the fineness and coating of the yarns comprising the textile reinforcement. For permeability testing special equipment was developed to enable measurement of the water and gas transport behavior of cracked TRC in-situ, under uniaxial tension, and at chosen strain levels. In the case of uncoated textile an increase in the fineness of the yarns led to a considerable increase in water absorption. The permeability of the cracked material correlated with residual strain and crack characteristics such as the number of cracks, crack width, and cumulative crack length. Furthermore, the effect of self-healing phenomena on the transport properties of TRC was investigated. The self-healing of fine cracks led to a pronounced reduction in the transport rates of water and gas over time.