Evaluation of cost-effective hybrid fiber reinforced ECC.

This research study presents the mechanical behaviour of new hybrid fiber reinforced engineered cementitious composite. Uniaxial compressive, four-point bending, direct tensile test, non-destructive testing and scanning electron microscopy of materials were performed to characterize the behaviour of new hybrid reinforced ECC. The replacement of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber with polyester (PET) fiber showed that the increment of PET fiber percentage in cement matrix enhanced the tensile strain and mid-point deflection; whereas, decreased the strength properties. Amalgam of three type of fibers at percentage level 1, 0.5 and 0.5 respectively in cementitious material increased the strength parameters; while, tensile strain and deflection decreased. Recorded ultrasonic pulse velocity values exhibited that the combined dispersion of polymeric and non-polymeric fibers do not affect the quality of concrete. Mechanical behaviour of different ECC matrices demonstrated that the dispersion of low modulus fiber enhanced the mid span deflection and tensile strain capacity; however, the inclusion of high modulus fiber improved the ability of matrix to sustain higher loadings. Hybridization of fibers cut the total cost of the cementitious matrix which promotes the use of ECC at large scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]