The present invention relates to improved concrete elements, particularly to self-prestressed, high-performance concrete elements (SP-HPC elements); to cementitious compositions suitable, for producing such concrete elements; to methods of manufacturing such concrete elements and such cementitious compositions; to the use of specific components in concrete elements and cementitious mixtures. The compositions and elements described herein comprise an effective amount of expansive agents in combination with superabsorbent polymers (SAP) and shrinkage reducing admixtures (SRA), and optional further components as defined in the claims. The present invention further provides for improved tendons, suitable for SP-HPC elements.

There is proposed a reinforced concrete structure comprising a reinforcement assembly embedded therein, the reinforcement assembly including first and second lengths of chain, wherein the first and second lengths of chain being pretensionable prior to forming the concrete structure. The reinforcement assembly includes pretensionable member/s and/or resiliently deformable member/s intermediate of at least one tetherable end of the lengths of chain and a mounting block or link member.

A self-confining structural article includes a ceramic matrix with a reinforcement member disposed within the ceramic matrix. The reinforcement member is continuous, and has a mesh with holes not exceeding 4 mm in size.

A self-confining structural article includes a ceramic matrix with a reinforcement member disposed within the ceramic matrix. The reinforcement member is continuous, and has a mesh with holes not exceeding 4 mm in size.

The present invention concerns a concrete slab, the slab comprising concrete and a combined reinforcement of both post-tension steel strands and fibers, said post-tension steel strandshaving a diameter ranging from 5 mm to 20 mm,having a tensile strength higher than 1700 MPa, said fibers being either steel fibers and being present in a dosage ranging from 10 kg/m.sup.3 to 75 kg/m.sup.3 or being macro-synthetic fibers and being present in a dosage ranging from 1.5 kg/m.sup.3 to 9,0 kg/m.sup.3, whereby the concrete is expanding concrete.

A concrete structural element is provided that includes a concrete matrix; a steel reinforcing structure embedded in said matrix; at least first and second attitude sensors at a distance from one another in a direction, embedded in said matrix and fixed to said reinforcing structure; and a processing circuit configured to recover attitude measurements supplied by each attitude sensor and configured to compute a deformation of said structural element relative to said direction as a function of the attitude measurements recovered.

A concrete structural element is provided that includes a concrete matrix; a steel reinforcing structure embedded in said matrix; at least first and second attitude sensors at a distance from one another in a direction, embedded in said matrix and fixed to said reinforcing structure; and a processing circuit configured to recover attitude measurements supplied by each attitude sensor and configured to compute a deformation of said structural element relative to said direction as a function of the attitude measurements recovered.

According to an embodiment, a detection system includes a plurality of sensor nodes and a sensor module. The plurality of sensor nodes detects sound waves generated from a prestressed concrete and converts the detected sound waves into detection signals. The sensor module is connected to the plurality of sensor nodes and receives the detection signals. The plurality of sensor nodes includes the sensor nodes in an operating state and the sensor nodes in a dormant state in which power consumption is held down as compared to the operating state. When magnitude of the detection signals is equal to or greater than a first threshold value, the sensor module switches the sensor node in the dormant state to the operating state.

According to an embodiment, a detection system includes a plurality of sensor nodes and a sensor module. The plurality of sensor nodes detects sound waves generated from a prestressed concrete and converts the detected sound waves into detection signals. The sensor module is connected to the plurality of sensor nodes and receives the detection signals. The plurality of sensor nodes includes the sensor nodes in an operating state and the sensor nodes in a dormant state in which power consumption is held down as compared to the operating state. When magnitude of the detection signals is equal to or greater than a first threshold value, the sensor module switches the sensor node in the dormant state to the operating state.

A method of manufacturing a pre-stressed beam or panel and the resulting beam or panel are described. The method includes providing a timber-based component (1); providing a pre-stressing member (9) arranged along the timber-based component; applying a tensile force to the pre-stressing member (9); providing concrete anchors (11a, 11b) at locations that are spaced apart along the timber-based component (1); coupling the pre-stressing member (9) to the concrete anchors (11a, 11b); and releasing the tensile force on the pre-stressing member (9) to transfer a compressive force to the timber-based component (1) through the concrete anchors (11a, 11b) to form a pre-stressed beam or panel.