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Optimisation of rheological parameters and mechanical properties of Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) using regression-based models

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

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Authors

Abstract

Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) have superior mechanical and durability performance than conventional concrete. One of the major challenges of producing ECC is to ensure appropriate rheology for uniform fibre distribution, which is the prerequisite of its strain-hardening robustness. In this study, the combined and interactive effects of polycarboxylate-based superplasticisers (SP) and viscosity modifying admixtures (VMA) on the rheological behaviour of ECC were systematically investigated. The evolution trends of yield stress and plastic viscosity were characterised in detail with a rheometer. The most desirable range of rheological condition for uniform fibre distribution was identified and the optimal SP-VMA combinations were predicted by regression modelling. Results showed that ECC produced with the optimised dosages of SP and VMA exhibited 200% enhancement in deflection under four-point bending. This study provides effective guidance on rheology control and optimisation of ECC materials and could further benefit for more extensive ECC development and applications.

Description

Keywords

Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC), Strain-hardening, Rheology, Regression analysis, Yield stress (YS), Plastic viscosity (PV), Superplasticiser (SP), Viscosity modifying admixture (VMA)

Journal Title

Construction and Building Materials

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0950-0618
1879-0526

Volume Title

310

Publisher

Elsevier BV
Sponsorship
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/P02081X/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/P013848/1)
Cambridge Trust Scholarship