Characterisation and Modelling of Thin-Walled, Carbon Reinforced Concrete Membranes under Multi-Axial Stress Conditions

Composites with non-metallic reinforcements are characterized by high compressive and tensile strength and have high potential for use in thin-walled structures such as double-curved shell structures or webs of beams. However, the load-bearing mechanisms of carbon reinforced concrete under membrane stress states have not yet been sufficiently investigated and it is not clear whether strut-and-tie models and compression field theories developed for membrane stress states in steel reinforced concrete can be transferred to carbon reinforced concrete.

Within the project, a new method for characterization of carbon reinforced concrete membranes under multi-axial stress conditions will be developed, which allows a detailed investigation of all mechanisms involved in load transfer. Novel experimental setups eliminate the deficits of known test methods and allow for reliable and reproducible characterization of all constitutive laws. Based on the results, a new compression field theory will be developed which allows us to predict the structural response of carbon reinforced concrete membranes.

Associated with the project C02 is the supplementary project C02*: Systematic investigations on the interaction of shear force bearing components in shear force models.