Temperature Impact on Engineered Cementitious Composite Containing Basalt Fibers

Engineered cementitious composite (ECC) is a new generation of fiber-reinforced concrete with high ductility and exceptional crack control capabilities. However, ECC can suffer a substantial reduction in ductility when exposed to elevated temperatures resulting in a loss of crack-bridging ability. In this study, the effect of adding basalt fiber (BF), which is an inorganic fiber with high-temperature resistance for the production of ECC, was studied. Moreover, the change in the mechanical properties of ECC, including compressive, tensile, and flexural strength, was experimentally investigated under elevated temperatures up to 400 degrees C. The results showed that the addition of BF to reinforced ECC improved the tensile and flexural strength of concrete effectively, but compressive strength marginally decreased. A significant decrease was observed in the range from 300 to 400 degrees C, while it increased smoothly when heated up to 300 degrees C. The compressive and flexural strength diminished after a slight strain gained when heated up to 100 degrees C. This work paves the way for future investigations focusing on the development of high-temperature resistance ECC.

Automated summary

The study found that adding basalt fiber can effectively improve the tensile and flexural strength of reinforced ECC, but may slightly decrease compressive strength. The mechanical properties of the material may undergo significant changes in high-temperature environments.