Design Methods for Fibre Reinforced Concrete

Background
In Denmark, FRC-materials have been introduced in a number of different areas. These include storage tanks, membranes, industrial floors and facade elements. The use of FRC materials in these areas is taking place on a more or less empirical basis or based on design criteria linked to specific fiber types and set up by fiber manufactures. It is expected that Danish industry will meet tough competition in the years to come in the field of FRC-materials and structures.
It is very important that a theoretical basis is established which makes it possible to design FRC-materials with respect to fracture toughness. Futhermore, that that it becomes possible to design FRC-structures taking the expected toughness of the material into account. In this process it is important that test methods are established which makes it possible to verify that the expected toughness has in fact been achieved.
In this connection it is important to realize that current design and test methods for concrete structures does not open such possibilities and that empirical and semi-empirical design methods ties the designer to certain fiber types and obstructs a rational optimization process.
Objectives
It is the overall objectives of the present project to:
· suggest design methods for concrete structures involving parameters quantifying the fracture toughness
· set up relationships between toughness parameters and fiber reinforcement
· design practical and reliable test methods for the determination of toughness
Furthermore the workability, durability and fire resistance of FRC materials will be evaluated.