Development of Light-Weight Fibre-Based Materials for Building Envelopes

Thin-walled elements with a matrix set on a base of
high-valuable Portland cement with dispersed reinforcement from
alkali-resistant glass fibres are used in a range of applications as
claddings of buildings and infrastructure constructions as well as
various architectural elements of residential buildings.
Even though their elementary thickness and therefore total weight
is quite low, architects and building companies demand on even
further decreasing of the bulk density of these fibre-cement elements
for the reason of loading elimination of connected superstructures
and easier assembling in demand conditions.
By the means of various kinds of light-weight aggregates it is
possible to achieve light-weighing of these composite elements.
From the range of possible fillers with different material properties
granulated expanded glass worked the best.
By the means of laboratory testing an effect of two fillers based on
expanded glass on the fibre reinforced cement composite was
verified.
Practical applicability was tested in the production of commonly
manufactured glass fibre reinforced concrete elements, such as
channels for electrical cable deposition, products for urban equipment
and especially various cladding elements.
Even though these are not structural elements, it is necessary to
evaluate also strength characteristics and resistance to environment
for their durability in certain applications.

• René Čechmánek
• Vladan Prachař
• Ludvík Lederer
• Jiří Loskot

• Fibre-cement composite
• granulated expanded glass
• light-weighing.

[1] S. Chandra and L. Berntsson, Lightweight Aggregate Concrete –
Science, Technology and Applications. Noyes Publications,
William Andrew Publishing, 2002.
[2] R. Čechmánek and V. Prachař, Light-weight fibre-cement composite
elements. Research Institute for Building Materials, 2012.
[3] http://www.liaver.cz.
[4] http://www.poraver.com.
[5] M. Karmazínová, J. Melcher J. and J. Veselý, Durability testing of
bridge cladding elements exposed to wind loading. Brno University
of Technology, 2013.