Tensile over-saturated cracking of Ultra-High-Strength Engineered Cementitious Composites (UHS-ECC) with artificial geopolymer aggregates. (February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xu, Ling-Yu; Huang, Bo-Tao; Lao, Jian-Cong; Yao, Jie; Li, Victor C.; Dai, Jian-Guo
• Is Part Of: Cement & concrete composites. Volume 136(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-02
• Subjects: Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) -- Strain-Hardening Cementitious Composites (SHCC) -- Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) -- Geopolymer -- Alkali-activated material -- Artificial aggregate -- Multiple cracking; Composite-reinforced concrete -- Periodicals; Concrete -- Periodicals; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Composites de ciment -- Périodiques; Béton -- Périodiques; Composites -- Périodiques; Béton léger -- Périodiques; Cement composites; Composite materials; Composite-reinforced concrete; Concrete; Lightweight concrete; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 620.135
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2022.104896
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0958-9465

Abstract

Abstract: Ultra-High-Strength Engineered Cementitious Composites (UHS-ECC) incorporating artificial geopolymer aggregates (GPA) were developed and over-saturated cracking (i.e., average tensile crack spacing smaller than the theoretical limit) was observed in this novel material. The developed UHS-ECC exhibited an ultra-high compressive strength (over 150 MPa) and an ultra-high tensile ductility (over 8%) simultaneously. The influences of GPA size on the matrix properties, tensile performance, micromechanics, and cracking behavior of UHS-ECC were systematically investigated. Over-saturated cracking and double-stage crack evolution (i.e., a bilinear relation between average crack width and tensile strain) were observed in UHS-ECC with GPA size smaller than 0.60 mm, while saturated cracking and single-stage crack evolution (i.e., a linear relation between average crack width and tensile strain) were observed in the other groups. Finally, the mechanism of over-saturated cracking and double-stage crack evolution was illustrated. The findings of this study extend the fundamental knowledge of ECC technology, which is meaningful for designing and developing UHS-ECC materials towards ultra-high tensile ductility. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: GPA-based UHS-ECC were developed with both ultra-high strength (over 150 MPa) and ultra-high ductility (over 8%). Over-saturated cracking was observed in UHS-ECC with GPA size smaller than 0.60 mm. UHS-ECC with over-saturated cracking exhibited a double-stage crack evolution. The mechanism of the over-saturated cracking of the GPA-based UHS-ECC is revealed. UHS-ECC with GPA size of 0.30–0.60 mm exhibited the highest strain-hardening potential.