Kick-Off SusDeCon R&D Project

contex/Mesh is a project partner in the research project SusDeCon-Sustainable design and construction with non-metallic reinforcements.

The three-year research project started on January 1, 2025. Partners include the Österreiche Bautechnik Vereinigung, numerous research partners and representatives of the Austrian construction industry.

The project aims to develop the missing fundamental knowledge for the practical application of these reinforcements. A key focus is on determining the long-term strength of selected reinforcement types, particularly in combination with low-clinker concrete. Investigations will be conducted into the influence of non-static loading on reinforcements with TP impregnation, and the bond behavior between reinforcement and concrete, taking gaps into account, will be described. From this, design principles for open-ended structures will be derived, considering both ecological and economic factors.

Another objective of the project is to establish technical specifications for the Austrian market. This involves defining relevant concretes and reinforcements, as well as determining test setups (such as roving tensile tests, strain gauge tests, and bond tests). A round-robin test will be used to standardize test concepts and derive design rules and manufacturing techniques. Additionally, dimensional deviations and manufacturing tolerances will be verified.

Finally, design criteria for sustainable construction are derived within defined application limits. This includes the development of a design model for non-metallic reinforced structural components subjected to shear forces and an engineering model for strengthening existing structures, taking end anchorage into account. The application limits of the design regulations are also developed.

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