Although the use of Fibre Reinforced Concrete (FRC) for structural applications is continuously increasing, it is still limited with respect to its potentials, mainly due to the lack of International Building Codes for FRC structural elements. Within fib (Féderation Internationale du Béton), the Special Activity Group 5 is preparing a New fib Model Code that aims to update the previous CEB-FIP Model Code 90, published in 1993, that can be considered as the reference document for Eurocode 2. The New Model Code includes several innovations and addresses among other topics, new materials for structural design. In this respect, FRC will be introduced. The Technical Groups fib TG 8.3 “Fibre reinforced concrete” and fib TG 8.6 “Ultra high performance FRC” are preparing some sections of the New Model Code, including regular and high performance FRC. This paper aims to briefly explain the main concepts behind the structural rules for FRC structural design
In this paper, an integrated approach targeting sustainability, safety, and resilience is envisioned for the renovation of the post-World War II RC buildings clustered in urban outskirts. The solution stems as an enhancement of the widespread camouflage practice, which targets energy efficiency and architectural restyling by complementing the building with a technological double skin, self-supported on an independent exoskeleton. Based on this integrated approach, the exoskeleton can be further engineered to also enable structural safety and resilience. Life cycle thinking is addressed to re-conceive traditional structural design approaches, guaranteeing safety, while minimizing costs and environmental impacts over the building life cycle. Accurate selection of materials and dry technologies enables adaptability, reparability and maintenance, and total recyclability/reuse at end-of-life. The intervention is carried out from outside, avoiding relocation of the inhabitants and possible building downtime. The paper introduces a possible framework for engineers, technologists, and architects to design new holistic renovation interventions, for which innovative solution sets are required. Possible structural techniques to be coupled with energy refurbishment are proposed. As a proof of concept, the envisaged holistic renovation strategy is applied to a reference building, and benefits entailed in combining structural safety measures within an integrated intervention are commented.
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