Carbon reinforced concrete

Researchers at the Missouri University of Science and Technology have received $567,000 (£342,100) to explore how carbon fibres could improve the blast and impact resistance of conventional reinforced concrete.

The researchers, headed by Dr Jeffery Volz, the assistant professor of civil, architectural and environmental engineering, is being funded through a co-operative agreement with the Leonard Wood Institute.

Reinforcing concrete with fibres is not a new idea, said Volz. The Roman Empire used hair and straw in its concrete structures and Egyptians mixed straw in clay to make harder bricks.

Today, short carbon fibres - measuring no more than 1.5in - are found in buildings, bridges and slabs to limit the size of cracks. But in the future, Volz said that the carbon fibres could be up to 6in in length, significantly improving a structure’s ability to withstand blasts, hurricanes and other natural disasters.

‘The long fibres will absorb more energy as they pull out during the pressure wave or impact, cutting down on the potential for failure during an explosion or earthquake,’ Volz explained. ‘The fibres will also significantly diminish secondary fragmentation, reducing one of the leading causes of damage to surrounding personnel and materials.’