Development of a Prototype Weaving Frame for the Production of FRP Mesh for Ferrocement Research

Widespread deterioration of infrastructure resulting from the corrosion of reinforcing steel within concrete has led to the development of fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) as reinforcement. Ferrocement has been a part of this where a number of investigations have indicated that FRP in the form of mesh can achieve similar mechanical performance and can be effectively used in the place of steel. However the high cost and limited availability of FRP mesh has meant that only restricted investigation has been possible and parameters such as yarn diameter, spacing and specific surface have not been fully taken into account Research currently underway at the University of Manchester seeks to address this problem by the construction of a prototype weaving frame to produce mesh from different fibres to a precise, repeatable configuration. In addition the frame also acts as a mould when casting ferrocement specimens for test by ensuring each yarn and layer are precisely located. The development of this frame enables production of comparative meshes of different fibre types without the need for expensive commercial specialist technology. This paper covers the development and commissioning of the frame to produce a useable reinforcement