The 3rd ACF International Conference-ACF/VCA 2008

A.60

IMPROVING THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF CONCRETE

ELEMENTS BY BENDABLE CONCRETES

Sharbatdar Mohammad Kazem- Assistant professor, Karami Mohammad - MSc Student

Civil Engineering Faculty, Semnan University, Iran

ABSTRACT: One of the most appropriate materials which are widely used in civil engineering
construction is concrete. Its brittle behavior in tensile loading is one of its undesirable properties
which leads to a kind of sudden failure mode results in a low ultimate strain around 0.01% due
to the fast growing of a single crack without any warning. In order to improve the tensile
characteristics of concrete, fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) was introduced and made by adding
discrete short fibers to the concrete matrix. Recently new kinds of composites called Engineered
Cementitious Composites (ECC) or so called" bendable concretes" are developed so that some
amount of polymer fibers PVA are added to the concrete mixture to enhance its properties. These
fibers act as bridges across the cracks to delay their propagation. Thus, a higher ultimate strain
and a more ductile failure mode would be attained. The objective of the present paper is to
investigate the suitable properties of such bendable concretes and introduce some of their
possible applications.

KEYWORDS: Bendable concrete, strain hardening, strengthening, durability, ECC composites

1. INTRODUCTION

Concrete consisting of cement, water, fine and coarse aggregates is widely used in civil
engineering constructions. Though making concrete is convenient and inexpensive, its brittle
behavior upon tensile loading is one of its undesirable characteristics so that leads to the
development of fiber reinforced cementitious composites to improve this deficient. The brittle
behavior of concrete is due to the fast growing of single crack consequences to the sudden failure
of the specimen. This kind of failure mode is resulted from a low ultimate strain around 0.01%
and a sudden failure without warning. In order to improve the behavior of concrete, fiber
reinforced concrete is made by adding discrete short fibers into the concrete matrix. Fibers which
are currently used include steel, glass, carbon and polymer fibers. Development of FRCs started
in the 1970s. By that time, only glass fiber and steel fiber were investigated. During the past 10
years, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber has been introduced in the production of FRC, resulting to a
new composite, which exhibits a pseudo ductile behavior similar to that of steel and is called
‘‘engineered cementitious composites’’. The ultimate tensile strain attained of ECC is between 2
to 6%, which is 200 to 600 times greater than that of normal concrete. This new kind of material
is very effective in transferring stress across the cracks and fractures and occurred with the
formation of multiple cracks. [1, 2]

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2. STRUCTURAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF PVA FIBERS

PVA fiber has suitable characteristics as reinforcing materials for cementitious composites. High
modulus of elasticity, durability, tensile strength and bonding strength with concrete matrix are
some of its desirable properties. PVA fiber has high strength and modulus of elasticity compared
to other general organic fiber which widely used for cement reinforcing. Table 1 shows typical
parameter of some reinforcing fibers.
One of the remarkable characteristics of PVA fiber is strong bonding with cement matrix. Figure
1 shows the microscopic images of cross section for PVA and polypropylene (PP) fiber
reinforced composites after breaking specimen that these images show PVA fiber was ruptured
and PP fiber was pull-outed, therefore PVA fiber has strong bonding compared to PP fiber.
Combination of bond strength, high tenacity and modulus of fibers makes the concrete more
flexible and can sustain more tensile loads. Figure 2 shows the microscopic images of polished
cross section after cutting for PVA and PP fiber reinforced composites. The layer of Ca(OH)2
called ITZ(Interfacial transition zone) round PVA fiber is formed as white part, and in case of PP,
this layer is not observed. It is known that PVA is easy to make complex cluster with metal
hydroxide as illustrated in Figure 3.
It is assumed that Ca+ and OH- ions in cement slurry are attracted by PVA and makes Ca(OH)2
layer. It seems reasonable to think that Ca(OH)2 layer plays important role for bonding strength.
Figure 4 shows images of surface for coarse PVA fiber after single fiber pull-out test. This image
implies that surface of PVA fiber is peeled by Ca(OH)2 layer and this phenomena is related to
strong bonding between PVA fiber and cement matrix. [3]

Table 1: Properties of reinforcing fibers for cementitious composites [3]

Tensile
Young’s Fiber
strength Density Remarks
modulus (GPa) elongation (%)
(MPa)

PVA fiber ～
880 1600 25～40 6 ～10 1.30 -

PP fiber 600 5 25 0.91 Floats in water

Nylon fiber ～
750 900 ～
3.4 4.9 13～25 1.10 -

Polyethylene fiber 250～700 1.4～2.2 10～15 0.95 -

High performance
2700 120 5 0.97 Expensive
polyethylene fiber
Steel fiber 1200 200 3～4 7.85 Heavy, rusts

AR glass fiber 2200 80 0～ 4 2.78 Weak in alkali

Asbestos 620 160 - 2.55 Health risky

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Figure 2: Image of interface

Figure 1: Microscopic images of PVA and PP fiber between PVA and cement matrix
reinforced composite

Figure 3: metal oxide complex Figure 4: SEM image for surface

cluster with PVA molecule of PVA fiber after pull-out test

3. MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF BENDABLE CONCRETES

Normal concrete has been widely used as a construction material with the advantages such as
durability, resistance to fire, energy efficiency, and on-site fabrication. In contrast, some
disadvantages are such as low tensile strength, low ductility, volume instability, and inconsistent
reliability due to variable vibration application skills on the job site. To improve its performance,
several modified materials, such as high performance (HPC) and high strength concrete (HSC)
and high performance fiber-reinforced concrete (HPFRC) have been developed. In the case of
HPC, it has a higher compressive strength and possibly improved durability, but, it is extremely
brittle. Most HPFRCs incorporate large amounts of fiber ranging from 4% to 20%, and attain
tensile strain-hardening behavior with a tensile ductility of about 1%. The large amount of fibers
used reduces the workability of the HPFRC, sometimes leading to the necessity to employ
different types of processing other than conventional casting, and thus limiting the application of
the material, especially for on-site fabrication. [2, 4]
Engineered cementitious composites (ECCs) are cement mortar-based fiber-reinforced
composites (FRCs) with superior ductility (about 200 to 600 times of the ductility of normal
concrete in tension). These composites are composed of cement, sand, water, a small amount of
admixtures, and an optimal amount of fibers. Although ECCs essentially utilize the same
ingredients as most FRCs except without coarse aggregates and employ a much smaller amount
of fibers than most HPFRCs, ECCs have a tensile strain capacity of up to 6% and exhibit pseudo-
strain-hardening behavior. The unique material properties of ECCs derive from its
micromechanical approach in material design, which serves to establish the link between
properties of the material constituents––the matrix, fiber, and interface properties. With effective
crack bridging provided by the fibers, failure of ECC was occurred with the formation of multiple
cracks that are very fine (the crack opening at ultimate strain is normally below 100 µm).
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A typical mix of PVA–ECC contains about 2% of PVA fibers. Also, the binder content is often
above 1000 kg/m3. As a result, the cost of PVA–ECC can be 4 to 5 times that of normal concrete.
In order to achieve economic mix, ECC should be used selectively in some parts of a structure
where their advantages can be fully exploited [4, 5]. Some of mechanical properties of bendable
concretes are explained in the following.
The flexural and fatigue performance of concrete is important for many applications such as
highway and airfield pavements, bridge decks and pavement overlays. The incorporation of an
ECC layer (which possesses very high resistance to crack growth) on the tensile side of the
concrete beam (where cracks will initiate) may hence a cost-effective alternative to improve the
fatigue and flexural performance of a concrete beam. Figure 5 shows a typical configuration of a
flexural test of ECC. [5, 6]
Conventional reinforced concrete is normally chosen for some protective structures due to its
worldwide acceptance as the main construction material. However, because of the quasi brittle
nature of concrete, heavy reinforcement and thick elements have to be used to provide sufficient
resistance against impact and blast. Recent researches showed that the bendable concretes, ECC,
can demonstrate such behaviors and thus may give better functionality compared to normal
concrete under projectile impact (see Figure 6) [7].
Self-consolidating ECC materials, defined as materials which retain the self-consolidating
properties in the fresh state, while exhibiting extreme ductile behavior in the hardened state, are
highly desirable (see Figure 7). To create self-consolidating ECC, the processing design for self-
consolidation focuses on the control of aggregated microstructure in the fresh state. This ductile
composite with excellent fluidity can be broadly utilized for a variety of applications, e.g. in
repair of deteriorated infrastructures requiring horizontal formworks, or in seismic-resistant
structures with dense reinforcements and requiring high ductility. [2]

Figure 5: Response of ECC Figure 6: Comparison of typical damage on 150 Figure 7: Self-
under flexural loading mm thick (a) normal concrete and (b) hybrid- consolidating casting
fiber ECC panels after impact by ogive-nose of ECC
shape projectile at striking velocity of 650 m/s

The resistivity of cement and concrete materials can vary widely depending on the material composition and
environmental conditions. Steel and carbon fibers used in ordinary FRCC are highly conductive while
polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers commonly used in ECC are insulators, thus carrying no current. The transfer
of electrical current from matrix to conductive fiber is also dependent on the physical interface that exists
between the two phases (matrix and fiber). The resistance of concrete has been an important design
parameter considered in a number of applications including the design of concrete rail ties, electrical power
plant slabs, and hospital operating room floors. [8]
As a brittle material, concrete cracks under load thereby allowing water and corrosives into the
material and accelerating destruction. Many concrete modifications increase durability, such as
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air entrainment, sulfate resistant cements, or minimum reinforcement, but few solutions target the
inherent brittleness of concrete. To solve the serious problem confronting infrastructures, a
fundamental solution which reduces the brittle nature of concrete is needed. Through the use of
bendable concretes which display significantly higher ductility than reinforced concrete (R/C),
durability problems resulting from cracking may be solved. [9]

4. APPLICATIONS OF BENDABLE CONCRETES

According to above mentioned proper characteristics of bendable concretes, some of their
potential applications are introduced as follows:

Structures subjected to impact or 3-D loading such as highway pavements, bridge decks,
and blast-resistant building core elements

Protective layer for enhancing the corrosion durability of R/C structures

ECC link slabs for jointless Bridge Decks [10,11] , as shown in Figure 8

Shear wall retrofitting of R/C buildings

High energy absorption structures/devices, including short columns, dampers, joints for
steel elements, and connections for hybrid steel/RC structures, as shown in Figure 9

Shear elements subjected to cyclic loading

R/C beams as durable cover for re-bar corrosion control

The hinging zone of a beam-column connection

Precast shear panels for building wall retrofits

Structures subjected to large deformations, such as underground structures which need to
conform to soil deformation and requires leak prevention

Permanent formwork

Extruded elements with structural properties

Wet-mix shotcrete [12]

FRP reinforced concrete structures [13]

Binder for radio-active waste treatment for leaching control

Concrete structural repair

Figure 8: ECC link slabs for jointless Figure 9: Hybrid multi-tower

bridge decks showing the ECC coupling beams

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5. CONCLUSIONS

Mechanical properties and some potential applications of bendable concretes ECC were
investigated and considered in this paper and the following results and conclusions can be
derived:

• The most important and significant characteristics of bendable concretes are high tensile
strength and strain hardening effect which enhanced the ductility and can be utilized for
improving the mechanical properties of conventional concrete elements.
• Freeze-thaw exposure, accelerated weather exposure, fatigue, and wheel load abrasion
and wear tests, all indicate that high ECC material durability. Self-controlled tight crack
widths reduce transport of water and corrosives through the cover, and significantly delay
corrosion of reinforcing steel. Furthermore the ductility of ECC minimizes the potential
for cover spalling.
• The cost of ECC is currently about four times that of normal concrete per cubic meter.
However the initial construction cost savings can be achieved when ECC is used, through
smaller structural member size, reduced or eliminated steel reinforcement, elimination of
other structural systems, and/or faster construction offered by the unique fresh and
hardened properties of ECC.
• Ductile ECC protects the FRP rebar from premature rupturing, as is often observed with
the use of FRP reinforced concrete.

REFERENCES

1- Li, V. C., Kanda, T, (1998) Engineered Cementitious Composites for Structural

Applications
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magazine
3- Horikoshi, T. Ogawa, A. Saito, T. and Hoshiro, H. (2005), proporties of polyvinylalcohol
fiber as reinforcing materials for cementitious composites. Li, V. C. (1997) Engineered
cementitious composites (ECC)- Tailored composites through micromechanical
modeling.
4- Zhang J., Leung C. K.Y., Cheung Y.N., (2006) Flexural performance of layered ECC-
concrete composite beam, Journal of Composites science and technology
5- Leung C.K.Y., Cheung Y.N., Zhang J. (2007) Fatigue enhancement of concrete beam
with ECC layer, Journal of Cement and concrete research
6- Lee S.C., Quek S.T., Maalej M. (2006) 3D FE modeling of hybrid-fiber ECC panels
subjected to projectile impact.
7- Hou T. and Lynch J.P., (2005) Monitorng strain in engineered cementitious composites
using wireless sensors. Proceedings of the International Conference on Fracture (ICF XI),
Turin, Italy
8- Lepech M. and Li V.C. (2006) Duraility and long term performance of engineered
cementitious composites.
9- Lepech M. and Li V.C., (2005) Design and Field Demonstration of ECC Link Slabs for
Jointless Bridge Decks

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10- Li, V. C., (august 2005) Bridge Decks Going Jointless - Cementitious Composites
Improve Durability of Link Slabs, CONSTRUCTION AND TECHNOLOGY magazine
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