High-performance strain-hardening cementitious composites with tensile strain capacity exceeding 4%: A review

Abstract

A state-of-the-art review on the development of high-performance strain-hardening cementitious composites (SHCC) with over 55 MPa compressive strength, 4% tensile strain capacity, and 300 kJ/m3 strain energy was conducted. The different designs of high-performance SHCCs with respect to the type of ingredients (cementitious materials, aggregates, fillers, and nanomaterials), water/binder and sand/binder ratios, fiber type, and aspect ratio, along with diverse curing regimes to satisfy the performance criteria, were analyzed. Some fiber surface refinement processes, e.g., graphene oxide coating and oxidation, were explained, and their effects on the mechanical properties of high-performance SHCCs were discussed. The durability and impact/blast resistance were also evaluated and compared with those of conventional SHCCs, such as engineered cementitious composites (ECC) and ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC). It was discovered that ductility-enhanced high-strength SHCC has a higher impact resistance than ECC and UHPFRC do. Because of its excellent mechanical properties, high-performance SHCC can be effectively used for various purposes, e.g., strengthening of existing structures, fireproofing of steel structures, elimination of stirrups, partial or total replacement of longitudinal steel rebars in reinforced concrete structures, and earthquake-resistant frame structures. Based on data analysis, a very-high-performance SHCC, which can absorb five times more energy than ECC, has also been recently developed. This SHCC has over 100 MPa compressive strength, 8% tensile strain capacity, and 800 kJ/m3 strain energy, respectively.