Huge opportunities for industry of nanofibrous concrete technology

Abstract

In spite of the fact that cementitious and concrete materials are mainly used on a large scale and in huge quantities for roads, dams, bridges and building constructions, the mechanical behavior of these materials depends to a great extend on structural elements and phenomena which are effective on a micro and nanoscale. Although this is well known by researchers, material producers and engineers for many years, the aspect of nanoscience and nanotechnology has hardly found any special attention, so far. New efforts and possibilities of material engineering on nanoscale in other fields may well lead to a new leap forward to improve mechanical and physical properties as well as durability of this important group of composite construction materials. This paper intends to stimulate the application and development of nanoscientific and nanotechnological concepts of nanofiber materials and their applications in concrete. Due to the wide range of possibilities, however, it does not claim to present a complete overview of the whole field. This would clearly go beyond the scope of this paper. It rather gives a short outline on the related cementitious and concrete material problems and research topics where nanoscience and nanotechnology could produce a major contribution to improve the nanofibrous materials where research needs to be done. Capability to accurately predict failure in joints offers significant potential for developing higher performance structural designs that are safer at the same time since these nanotubes can be used to accurately assess the behavior of joints, members and structures. Nanofibrous cement based materials can monitor regions of partial damages, localized changes in strains, stresses and temperatures of any joints and members.