Behavior of Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECCs) Subjected to Coupled Sustained Flexural Load and Salt Frost

The performance of engineered cementitious composites (ECCs) under coupled salt freezing and loaded conditions is important for its application on the transportation infrastructure. However, in most of the studies, the specimens were generally loaded prior to the freezing. The influence of sustained load was merely considered. To this end,...

Influence of Fiber Orientation on the Water and Ions Transportation of Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC)

An engineered cementitious composite (ECC) belongs to a type of high-performance fiber-reinforced materials. Fiber alignment causes the anisotropy of such materials. Herein, the influence of the fiber orientation on water and ion penetration into an ECC was studied. Fiber alignment was achieved using an extrusion approach. Water absorption,...

Chloride penetration resistance of engineered cementitious composite (ECC) subjected to sustained flexural loading

This paper presents a research on the chloride penetration behavior of engineered cementitious composites (ECC) under sustained flexural loads. Three load levels, i.e. 30 %, 60 % and 75 % of the ultimate flexural load were used. Chloride diffusion depth and concentration profile were measured 30, 60 and 150 days after the specimen was exposed...

Effect of crack width and wet-dry cycles on the chloride penetration resistance of engineered cementitious composite (ECC)

The resistance of cracked ECC against chloride ingress is mainly governed by the accumulated crack width of all the cracks rather than the maximum width of multiple cracks. However, most studies focus on the influence of a single fine crack

Influence of self-healing induced by polylactic-acid and alkanoates-derivates precursors on transport properties and chloride penetration resistance of sound and cracked mortar specimens

The possible beneficial impact of self-healing on chloride transport through cracks has been assessed for two bacteria-based self-healing mortar mixtures in comparison with Ordinary Portland cement mortar. Intact self-healing specimens featured lower chloride transport coefficients thanks to a denser microstructure and to the formation of a...

RILEM TC 247-DTA round robin test: carbonation and chloride penetration testing of alkali-activated concretes

Many standardised durability testing methods have been developed for Portland cement-based concretes, but require validation to determine whether they are also applicable to alkali-activated materials. To address this question, RILEM TC 247-DTA ‘Durability Testing of Alkali-Activated Materials’ carried out round robin testing of carbonation...

Effect of relaxation on eigenstresses and microcracking in concrete under imposed deformation

For the dimensioning of concrete structures it is customary to determine the forces and stresses occurring in construction elements on the basis of the prescribed loads. In an iterative process, the final dimensions of the elements and reinforcement are then determined. This process becomes less simple if not only the external loads, but also...

Chloride transport testing of blast furnace slag cement for durable concrete structures in Norway: From 2 days to one year age

Blast furnace slag cement (BFSC) has been used in reinforced concrete structures in marine and road environment in The Netherlands for nearly a century. Experience is good and long service lives can be obtained. In Norway experience with BFSC is scarce. In The Netherlands, a high resistance against chloride penetration and a high electrical...

Innovation based on tradition: Blast furnace slag cement for durable concrete structures in Norway?

Blast furnace slag cement (BFSC) has been used to build reinforced concrete structures in marine and road environment in The Netherlands for nearly a century. The experience is good and structures with long service lives can be obtained, as has been shown by several field studies. This is caused by a high resistance against chloride penetration...

Computational modelling of chloride ion transport in reinforced concrete

Exposure to a saline environment is a major threat with respect to the durability of reinforced concrete structures. The chloride ions, which are present in seawater and de-icing salts, are able to penetrate the concrete up to the depth of the reinforcement. They can eventually trigger a pitting corrosion process. The assessment of a corrosion...