Abstract: Shaped composite structures which are strong, stiff and hard and, at the same time, having high toughness, comprise a matrix, for example a cement or ceramics based matrix and embedded therein a plurality of plate shaped or at lest 60 mm thick elongated reinforcement components, the reinforcing component having at least 1.5 times higher tensile strength that the matrix, the minimum volume per cent concentration of the reinforcement components being related in the manner described in the specification to their tensile strength and (in case of elongated reinforcement components) also their thickness and to the compressive strength and modulus of elasticity and modulus of elasticity of the matrix. Methods for modeling and designing such structures are also disclosed, as are methods for establishing the structure for smaller matrix building blocks which may be pre-fabricated and which are arranged around pre-arranged reinforcement bodies and then fixed to each other and to the reinforcement.

Abstract: Shaped composite structures which are strong, stiff and hard and, at the same time, have high toughness, comprise a matrix, for example a cement or ceramics based matrix, and embedded therein a plurality of plate shaped or at least 60 mm thick elongated reinforcement components, the reinforcement components having an at least 1.5 times higher tensile strength than the matrix, the minimum volume per cent concentration of the reinforcement components being related in the manner described in the specification to their tensile strength, and (in the case of elongated reinforcement components) also their thickness and to the compressive strength and modulus of elasticity and modulus of elasticity of the matrix. Methods for modelling and designing such structures are also disclosed, as are methods for establishing the structure from smaller matrix building blocks which may be pre-fabricated and which are arranged around prearranged reinforcement bodies and then fixed to each other and to the reinforcement.