Electrical material properties of carbon reinforced concrete

Abstract

Carbon fiber reinforced concrete is poised to be the building material of the future. We present a study to quantify the influence of this novel reinforcement material on RF propagation in the range from 0.4 to 67 GHz. The measured attenuation effects of the reinforcement material are explained and quantified using a metallic wire screen model. It can be used to as a simple model of the material’s influence in radio propagation scenarios. For reference and completeness, data on the complex dielectric permittivity of the investigated concrete brand is also included. The production process of the concrete samples used for the measurements is documented, facilitating comparability and reproducibility. Finally, implications for current and future radio communication applications are outlined.