Performance of engineered cementitious composites under drop-weight impact: Effect of different mixture parameters

Abstract

Current research focuses on the experimental and numerical determination of impact performance of engineered cementitious composites (ECC). Performance assessment of ECC beams with different mixture parameters was made. Mixtures were produced with different replacement rates of Class-F fly ash and slag with Portland cement, water to binder ratios and fiber types (polyvinyl alcohol [PVA] and nylon [N]). Experimental works were validated with incremental dynamic analyses performed by ABAQUS finite element software. Impact testing results were further supported by mechanical property results. Results reveal that each individual mixture parameter used is distinctively effective in modifying the properties under both sudden impact and slow static loading. In brief, enhanced impact resistance is noted when ECC is produced with slag, low amounts of pozzolanic materials, low W/B ratio, fiber addition and PVA fibers. Experimental results were also in line with the numerical results from ABAQUS largely. Significantly, cost-effective N fibers were also shown to be fully replaceable with costly PVA fibers without jeopardizing mechanical/impact performance, if mixture design parameters are adjusted suitably. Current research is likely to attract further research on the development of ECC that is with lower cost and comparable impact/mechanical performance with regards to widely studied more expensive counterparts in the literature.