Traditional reinforced concrete relies on steel bars to provide strength against pulling forces. While effective, steel reinforcement has two major downsides: it rusts over time, reducing durability, and its production is highly carbon-intensive, contributing significantly to climate change. Attempts to replace steel with fibers (like carbon or glass) face challenges—mainly achieving the same secure bond between reinforcement and concrete.
The Invention
This patent introduces a new type of reinforcing strip (called a CFS lamella) made from layers of stone and high-strength fibers such as carbon, glass, or stone fibers. Unlike earlier approaches that used a wavy, snake-like shape for the whole bar (which weakened stiffness), this design keeps the reinforcement straight but adds a special corrugated (wavy) surface pattern only along parts of the strip.
The Inventive Step
The unique idea is to combine a straight reinforcement axis with a strategically corrugated surface. This ensures strong grip inside the concrete without bending the fiber layers. The result: the reinforcement cannot easily be pulled out, even under heavy loads or extreme conditions like fire.
Key Benefits
- Durability: No rusting, unlike steel.
- Strength: Fibers remain tightly clamped inside the stone and concrete, even at high temperatures.
- Sustainability: Replaces steel with lower-emission materials, reducing the construction industry’s carbon footprint.
- Safety: Enhanced resistance during fires or structural stress, since the special geometry prevents pull-out.
Broader Impact
This innovation could transform construction by making concrete structures longer-lasting, more sustainable, and safer. If widely adopted, it could significantly cut global CO₂ emissions tied to steel production while improving the resilience of bridges, buildings, and other critical infrastructure.