The application of GRC in the Middle East

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The Application of GRC in
the Middle East
Ian G White BSc CEng MICE

GRC in the Middle East
• What is GRC?
• Where is GRC manufactured in the Middle East?
• Examples of Applications
• What are the Advantages of GRC to designers and
their Clients?
• Future developments

• GRC = Glass fibre Reinforced Concrete
• What are the materials used in GRC?
• How is GRC Manufactured?
• What are the Properties of GRC ?
What is GRC?

The Materials
+
Alkali Resistant Glass Fibre
Reinforcement
Cement, Sand, Water, Superplasticisers etc.

What is Alkali Resistant Glass Fibre?
Q. What makes Glass fibre Alkali Resistant?
Q. How much Zirconium Dioxide is required?
require a
for glass fibre to be classified as AR.
Q. Who manufactures AR glass fibres?
A. of Japan have been manufacturing AR Glass fibre for use in GRC and
Concretes since 1975. NEG ARG fibre contains approximately

Why Alkali Resistant Glass Fibre?
Alkali
Resistant
Glass Fibre
E‐glass
Fibre
As manufactured
Held at 80ºC for 200 hours in
saturated cement solution

• What are the Main Constituents of GRC?
• How is GRC Manufactured?
• What are the Properties of GRC?
What is GRC?

• Traditional Sprayed GRC
• Premix GRC – Cast & Sprayed
Production Systems

Traditional Hand Spray GRC

Cast Premix GRC

Sprayed Premix GRC

GRC TEST COUPON
CONCRETE
CUBE
GRC
is tested in
Bending
Traditional concrete
is tested in
Compression

Flexural Tensile Strength

Limit of Proportionality (LOP)
Modulus of Rupture (MOR)
TYPICAL
DESIGN
STRESS STRAIN
S
T
R
E
S
S
TYPICAL STRESS STRAIN CURVE FOR GRC

Typical Properties of GRC
Sprayed GRC (5% AR Glass) Premix GRC (3% AR Glass)
Bending Strength:
LOP 7‐11 MPa 5‐8 MPa
MOR 20‐30 MPa 9‐14 MPa
Young’s Modulus
10‐20 GPa 10‐20 GPa
Thermal Expansion:
( x10 ‐6 / o C) 7‐12 7‐12
Thermal Conductivity
( W/ m oC) 0.9‐1.5 0.9‐1.5
Water Absorption (%) 10‐15 10‐15

Where is GRC manufactured
in the Middle East?
• Bahrain
• Egypt
• Kuwait
• Oman
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• United Arab Emirates
• Lebanon
• Turkey
• Jordan
• Iran
• Iraq
• Yemen
• Syria

Where is GRC manufactured
in the Middle East?
Everywhere!

GRC Applications in the Middle East
• GRC has been used on projects in the Middle East for
over 30 years
• First manufacturer was established in the late 1970’s

GRC Cladding Panels
Imam Mohammed Bin Saud Islamic University
1st Major GRC Project ‐ Riyadh, KSA – 140,000m2

Imam Mohammed Bin Saud
Islamic University
Completed in 1984

Imam Mohammed Bin Saud
Islamic University
GRC Insulated Cladding Panels and Decorative Features

Championship Golf Course
Dubai
The light weight of GRC allows for imaginative architectural uses to create striking
buildings that would otherwise be difficult to build

Education City – Qatar

Alexandria Library ‐ Egypt
SnØhetta Architects + Hamza Associates

Masdar City
Abu Dhabi
Architect – Foster + Partners

Tower Blocks
Turkey

The Atlantis Hotel
Dubai

Decorative Screens and Columns

Decorative Screen
Kuwait 1980s

Decorative Screens
Kuwait 2014

Ceremonial Court, Education City
Qatar
Architect – Arata Isozaki

Princess Noura’s Women University
Saudi Arabia – 2010, est. Over 500,000m2

Columns and Capitals

Domes and Minarets

Domes

16m Dome – Permanent Formwork
Saudi Arabia

16m Dome (After Concreting)
Saudi Arabia

Dome ‐ Permanent Formwork (Inside)
Saudi Arabia

Grand Mosque
Muscat, Oman

Minarets

Landscaping and Street Furniture
Saudi Arabia and Dubai

Landscaping and Street Furniture
Saudi Arabia and Oman

Walls
Bahrain

• What is GRC?
• Where is GRC manufactured in the Middle East?
• Examples of Applications
• What are the Advantages of GRC to designers and
their Clients?
• Future developments
GRC in the Middle East

• High Strength = Thin Sections = Lightweight Products
• Enables Interesting Shapes to be created
• Wide range of Surface finishes
• Easy to handle and transport
• Low Environmental Impact
The Advantages of GRC

• Improved Materials and Mix Designs
• Higher Strength GRCs
• Special Cements with Lower Carbon Emissions =
Lower Environmental Impact
• Better Consistency and Durability of Surface Finishes
• More Innovative Applications
GRC – Future Developments

More than 4 billion tonnes of cement produced in 2013
650 to 920 kgs of Carbon per tonne.
Cement production accounts for more than 5% of the world’s
carbon emissions.
Estimated to generate around 9 billion tonnes of Carbon by 2030!
Ordinary Portland CEMENT is NOT GREEN !
GRC – New Greener Cements

TioCem® Cement
GRC + New Greener Cements

White cement with nano crystalline Titanium Dioxide
TiO2
TiO2 acts as a photo‐catalyst when exposed to Ultra
Violet (UV) light to convert harmful Nitrous Oxides
(e.g. from vehicle emissions) to Nitrates.
Self Cleaning
Expensive if used throughout the thickness of the
concrete.
Advantage GRC √
TioCem® Cement

Spraying a Face Coat ‐ TioCem®

Green GRC + UK BREEAM
GRC cladding with stainless steel support, insulation, epdm layer, light steel frame,
plasterboard and paint A+
FRP cladding with a similar construction A
Extruded aluminium stick type curtain wall C/D
Non load bearing Precast Concrete sandwich cladding panel with sandstone facing E
BRE Green Guide 2008

Conclusions
• GRC has been in use in the Middle East for nearly 40 years.
• GRC is well established as a material for architectural
cladding and decorative features
• GRC’s “ ” credentials are only just being realised.
• GRC materials are continuously being improved
• GRC has a great future!

With More Challenges!
KAPSARC – Riyadh, KSA ‐ 2014
Zaha Hadid

19‐21 April 2015
Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai
www.grca.org.uk
GRC 2015 ‐ Dubai

THANK YOU FOR
ATTENDING
A wealth of presentations and reports are available at
www.middleeastconcrete.com/presentations
www.grca.org.uk
PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO COLLECT YOUR ATTENDANCE CERTIFICATE

Consistency of Finishes

Colour Adjustment and Protection
Before After

Colour Adjustment and Protection
An impregnation technology
• Non film forming, lets the material breathe
• Doesn’t modify the nature of the substrate
• No blistering
ProtectGuard Color
thickness max 40
microns
Paint thickness > 200
microns

The application of GRC in the Middle East

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