Stress development and deformation characteristics of chemically prestressed high-strength concrete plates reinforced with different ratios of carbon textile reinforcement

This experimental work aims to study the feasibility of utilizing the chemical prestressing technology to enhance the structural performance of high-strength concrete plates reinforced with different ratios of carbon textile reinforcement. For this aim, 30 concrete plates of dimensions 1000 mm× 160 mm x 30 mm were cast. The plates were divided into two main groups of fifteen plates each. The first group was made of normal concrete, and it aimed to serve as a control group, while the second group was made of expansive concrete. Each group was further subdivided into five subgroups depending on the reinforcement ratio and eccentricity, The expansion and shrinkage-induced strains inside the plates were then monitored for ninety days using the distributed fibre optic sensor technology. Additionally, the mechanical properties of the normal and expansive concrete were tested on key dates to study the influence of expansion on the concrete properties. The results have revealed the ability of the developed expansive concrete mixture to produce stable and consistent expansion with significant values and minimal or no damage to the concrete properties in the long run. Additionally, a full bond between the textile reinforcement and the expansive concrete was developed, which has led to a full transfer of the expansion strain, and hence the development of significant tensile stresses inside the reinforcement reaching a value of more than 500 MPa. Finally, using eccentric reinforcement has led to significant deformation in the resulting plates, however, such deformation can be predicted accurately. • The feasibility of utilizing the chemical prestressing technology in carbon textile reinforced concrete was investigated. • Distributed fibre optic sensor technology was used to monitor the stability of the developed stresses for three months. • The proposed expansive concrete has led to the development of stable stresses inside the reinforcement and concrete. • A full bond was developed between the concrete and the textile reinforcement