Experimental study of some durability properties of ECC with a more environmentally sustainable rice husk ash and high tenacity polypropylene fibers

An environmentally sustainable variation of Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) with non-processed rice husk ash (RHA) at the amount of 30% of cement (by volume) replacement and high tenacity polypropylene (PP) fiber was evaluated in terms of durability properties (pore structure and shrinkage). Conventional concretes were also used as baseline materials to compare with ECC mixtures (with and without RHA). The incorporation of RHA on ECC mixture showed an improvement in the durability by increasing the capillary resistance and enhancing the tortuosity of capillary pores. In addition, the incorporation of RHA reduced both free and restrained shrinkage of ECC. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.