Scientists in Singapore have developed a new type of concrete that is bendable, yet stronger and more durable than regular concrete.
Creators of the product, called ConFlexPave, say it allows for the creation of slim precast pavement slabs for quick installation, halving the time needed for road works and new pavements.
Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) Professor Chu Jian, says the university’s discovery will also
"We developed a new type of concrete that can greatly reduce the thickness and weight of precast pavement slabs, hence enabling speedy plug-and-play installation, where new concrete slabs prepared off-site can easily replace worn out ones."
Unlike standard concrete, which is a conglomeration of cement, water, gravel and sand, ConFlexPave is engineered with hard materials and polymer microfibres, allowing the product to flex and bend under pressure.
The inclusion of these special synthetic fibres also enhances skid resistance.
Research leader Assistant Professor Yang En-Hua says the key breakthrough was understanding how the components of the materials interact with one another mechanically on a microscopic level.
"With detailed understanding, we can then deliberately select ingredients and engineer the tailoring of components, so our final material can fulfill specific requirements needed for road and pavement applications," Yang explains.
"The hard materials give a non-slip surface texture while the microfibres which are thinner than the width of a human hair, distribute the load across the whole slab, resulting in a concrete that is tough as metal and at least twice as strong as conventional concrete under bending.”
ConFlexPave has been successfully tested as tablet-sized slabs at NTU laboratories. It will be scaled up for further testing over the next three years in areas where there will be human and vehicle traffic.