A Method for Producing Structurally Equivalent Graphite Reinforced Cementitious Composites

This paper describes a method to duplicate the structural performance of a graphite-reinforced cementitious composite as the mix proportions and constituents of its cementitious matrix are varied. This is accomplished by placing a test specimen constructed using a modified mixture over a reinforcing scheme identical to that of a control standard and then matching the end deflection of these samples. The method was applied by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Student Chapter at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (Team UAH) to design a modified mixture that complied with rule changes established by ASCE and Master Builders for the 2003 ASCE/MBT National Concrete Canoe Competition. The study was highly successful and resulted in a new and improved graphite-reinforced cementitious composite that had the same structural response as the control standard.