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The present study investigated the flexural properties of Textile Reinforced Concrete (TRC) incorporated with waste fishing nets as reinforcement with a view to providing a potential solution to the environmental impact caused by these nets. Locally available waste fishing nets having two different mesh sizes and thicknesses were used as textile reinforcement for investigation. The fishing nets composed of nylon fibres were selected due to their potential as a sustainable and cost-effective reinforcement material. TRC composite with A.R. Glass textile was used as a reference specimen and that with A.R. Glass textile and waste fishing net were considered for the flexural tests. The influence of different layers of textiles was also investigated. The epoxy coating was used to coat the waste fishing nets along with A.R. glass textile to develop a hybrid textile. Properties of TRC composites incorporated with uncoated nets were compared with the composites using coated nets in order to understand the effect of coating on the reinforcement. The efficiency of textiles as reinforcement was also analyzed in detail by determining the strength and ductility ratio. Investigating the flexural behaviour of TRC with epoxy-coated waste fishing nets aims to understand this innovative composite material's mechanical properties and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive investigations have been carried out to understand the chemical resistance of nylon-based waste fishing nets for use as reinforcement in cementitious composites. The study has aimed to promote a circular economy by converting waste fishing nets into construction materials. Epoxy coatings have been applied to two types of waste fishing nets, and characterization studies have been conducted. Chemical characterization has involved exposing coated and uncoated nets to alkali solutions to simulate the cementitious environment. Advanced techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), have been used to assess morphological and elemental changes before and after alkali exposure. Uniaxial tensile tests have been performed to evaluate the influence of epoxy coating on mechanical properties and its suitability for reinforcement. Coated nets have shown minimal degradation compared to uncoated ones, with damage primarily involving the formation and expansion of etch holes. The tensile response of coated nets has demonstrated promising strength, stiffness, and strain values, qualifying them for reinforcement applications. The findings suggest that epoxy-coated waste fishing nets offer a durable and sustainable alternative for cementitious composites, supporting the broader goal of waste recycling in construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste fishing nets cause severe detrimental impacts on the environment, as they are lost and abandoned in the ocean and on beaches yearly, harming the ecosystems. Most discarded fishing nets are made of non-biodegradable material, and dumping them into the sea or on land pollutes the environment. There is a growing demand for innovative and sustainable ways to reuse and recycle them into new product applications. Waste fishing nets can be used for reinforcing cementitious composites for structural and non-structural purposes to avoid these disposal problems. The inclusion of reinforcing fibers has significantly improved cement-based materials' physical and mechanical properties. When waste fishing nets are used as fiber, or mesh as it is, or as yarn, can meet the demands of the construction industry for a variety of products. The advancements in the usage of waste fishing nets as building materials are outlined in this paper. The review summarises current published literature about cementitious systems that contain waste fishing nets with an emphasis on their current management, fresh and hardened properties, and durability. Additionally, future research gaps on the behavior of waste fishing net reinforced composites for civil engineering applications are identified that contribute to the sustainability of the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The addition of crystalline admixtures in the cementitious composite is instrumental in imparting water tightness, enhancing strength, and achieving self-healing abilities in various construction applications. In this work, the viability of using crystalline admixtures in heat-cured strain-hardening cementitious composites (SHCC) and their impact on specimens subjected to alkaline and aqueous environments are examined. In SHCC, lime stone-calcined clay cement (LC3) is used in the matrix and mineral-impregnated carbon yarns are used as reinforcement. The usefulness of heat curing for SHCC to water curing is initially assessed by analyzing the mechanical characteristics and connecting them to the microstructural components by SEM examination. Investigations reveal that the crystalline admixture increases compressive strength in water- and heat-cured specimens by 30–37%, respectively. Subsequently, a uniaxial tensile test is conducted on heat-cured SHCC specimens and on pre-damaged ones that are submerged in tap water and also in alkaline water. The impact of crystalline admixture on the SHCC's tensile response was examined, and the results were correlated with SEM examination. The maximal stress is increased by approximately 14% and 26% when pre-damaged SHCC specimens with crystalline admixture are submerged in water and an alkaline environment, respectively. Investigated the influence of water and heat curing on compressive strength of crystalline admixture incorporated SHCC SEM micrographs compared for heat and water-cured SHCC Influence of crystalline admixture investigated for pre-damaged SHCC immersed in tap and alkaline water tested under uniaxial tension and correlated with SEM micrographs Heat-cured SHCC showed a 37% increase in compressive strength due to crystalline admixture Pre-damaged SHCC with crystalline admixture in alkaline water showed maximum stress under uniaxial tension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most popular crash barriers made so far are made up of steel-reinforced concrete (RC), which has high flexural rigidity but poor energy absorption. Consequently, when a vehicle collides with such crash barrier, the vehicle is seriously damaged and occupants may be fatally injured due to the severe impact of the collision. Hence, in order to enhance the safety of road users, a pre-fabricated textile-reinforced concrete (TRC) crash barrier prototype is developed using glass and basalt textile as reinforcement. The experimental investigations are carried out on both glass and basalt TRC crash barrier at the laboratory level under impact load to study the level of impact and deceleration rate. The performance of TRC crash barriers are also compared with RC crash barriers of equivalent calibrated reinforcement ratio. The lesser impact force and the lower rate of deceleration and higher energy absorption characteristics were experienced during the impact test for TRC crash barriers when compared to that of conventional RC barrier. Present study indicates that the application of TRC in crash barriers can improve the safety of the occupants and reduces damages to the impacting vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Textile-reinforced concrete (TRC) has found extensive attention as a promising material for structural strengthening of masonry structures. In the present paper, a first-of-its kind of the study of bonding of precast TRC laminates was compared with cast-in-place TRC strengthening for masonry wall panels. TRC consists of a high early strength developing binder and an alkali-resistant glass textile reinforcement. Characterization studies were carried out to determine the strength development pattern for the binder as the age progresses. Uniaxial test has been carried out to understand the tensile behaviour of TRC that has implications in structural strengthening. Based on the studies, an optimal textile reinforcement ratio and the corresponding number of layers of textile to be used in the TRC have been arrived for strengthening of brick masonry panels. Strengthened and unstrengthened brick masonry panels were experimentally tested under the combined effect of axial compression and shear. The results indicate that there is an increase in stiffness, ultimate load and a significant reduction in the lateral deflection for the strengthened panels compared to unstrengthened panels. Brick masonry strengthening methodology using precast TRC laminates bonding exhibited promising results compared to cast-in-place TRC strengthening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sandwich systems are gaining prominence because they offer thermal insulation in many building structures. There is a growing interest in better understanding the behavior of sandwich structures, as well as there is a need to monitor and predict the consequences of the limitations and weaknesses inherent in their design. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of two types of core materials on the bending properties of textile reinforced concrete (TRC) sandwich beams. In TRC, bi-directional glass textiles were used as reinforcement along with fine grained cementitious binder. TRC sandwich beam consisted of gypsum or calcium silicate panels with different density as core and TRC as skins. The stress transfer between skin and core was attained using adhesive tension without the use of mechanical anchors or adhesives. The bending properties of TRC sandwich beams including the effect of number of layers of textile in the TRC skins and independent behavior of core materials were investigated using three-point bending test. The properties such as flexural strength, toughness and residual strength have been evaluated for all specimens. Feasibility of using ASTM guidelines has been explored in estimating the toughness of various TRC systems. The general outcomes of this investigation promise a good influence for the application of gypsum and calcium silicate as core material for sandwich structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]