Participating Formwork with CFRP Textile for Shape-Optimised Concrete Beams: Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

Carbon emissions from concrete structural elements can be reduced by improving the material efficiency with shape optimisation. However, fabricating and reinforcing shape-optimised concrete beams is challenging due to the need for complex and curved geometries. This study conceptualises the use of dual-purpose stay-in-place participating formwork with CFRP textile for shape-optimised beams where the system acts as (a) the formwork for the optimised geometry, and (b) flexural and shear reinforcement. The development, preliminary analysis, and experimental results of a prototype beam with CFRP textile are presented in this paper. Participating formwork with CFRP textile offers an opportunity to reduce concrete consumption as a comparably easier construction method of shape-optimised beams but challenges persist in potential premature brittle failure modes.