Evaluation of the Performance and Cost-Effectiveness of Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) Produced from Region 6 Local Materials

The project objective is to develop cost-effective Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) with locally available ingredients in Region 6 to address the deficiencies observed in ordinary concrete materials. The study explored the utilization of two types of river sands (coarse and fine), two types of PVA fibers (long and short), four levels of cement replacement with Class F fly ash, and the implementation of recycled crumb rubber in the performance of ECC materials. A total of 24 mix designs were prepared and evaluated in compression, tension, and bending to assess its mechanical properties. Furthermore, the cracking characteristics of the materials produced were evaluated to assess the durability potential of these composites. Lastly, the cost of each mix design and the feasibility of ECC implementation in transportation infrastructure were assessed. The experimental results showed that implementing crumb rubber and/or increasing contents of fly ash in the mixtures produced a positive impact in the ductility of the materials. However, a tradeoff between ductility and strength was observed. Furthermore, the utilization of the different types of sand evaluated in this study produced minor effects in the mechanical properties of ECCs evaluated. The properties of the materials developed in this study were exceedingly superior than that of regular concrete. It was concluded that ECC materials are promising for the future of transportation infrastructure