Effect of sustained flexural loading on self-healing of engineered cementitious composites

Abstract

This paper aims to clarify the effects of sustained flexural loading on the self-healing behavior of Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC). Prismatic specimens of ECC mixtures with two different levels of Class-F fly ash content were cast. Flexural loading was applied to the specimens at 28 days age to generate severe amount of microcracks. The specimens were then stored under continuous water or air exposures with or without sustained mechanical loading, for up to 90 days. For specimens under sustained mechanical loading, the applied sustained load level was 60% of the ultimate flexural strength. The extent of damage was determined as a percentage of loss in mechanical properties. The influences of different exposure regimes and sustained mechanical loading on mechanical properties of ECC mixtures were investigated. Microstructural changes within the microcracks were also analyzed.