Experimental and analytical analysis of the effect of water content on the thermomechanical behaviour of glass textile reinforced concrete at elevated temperatures

Abstract Textile reinforced concrete (TRC) composites are generally used to repair and/or reinforce civil engineering structures. In most cases, these reinforced structures are subjected to the weather conditions of the surrounding environment and issues such as thermal variation, humidity, and fire exposure. With consideration for these types of conditions, this study investigates the thermomechanical behaviour of TRC composites under various elevated temperatures from 20 °C to 800 °C and two water contents (i.e., ‘almost-dry’ and ‘saturated’). An analysis of these conditions will allow the effect of temperature to be quantified and combined with the presence of water in the pores of the TRC composites. The experimental study is followed by an analytical model that aims to calibrate the existing Gibson model. Based on the obtained experimental results, the parameters of the analytical model that were adapted for cementitious matrix composites are identified and discussed. With a minimum number of experimental tests, the modified analytical model enabled the prediction of the thermomechanical properties of glass TRC as a function of its water content and temperature. Therefore, the proposed modified analytical model can be applied to the prediction of the thermomechanical properties of similar TRC composites.