Development of Ultra-Lightweight and High Strength Engineered Cementitious Composites

In this study, ultra-lightweight and high strength Engineered Cementitious Composites (ULHS-ECCs) are developed via lightweight filler incorporation and matrix composition tailoring. The mechanical, physical, and micromechanical properties of the resulting ULHS-ECCs are investigated and discussed. ULHS-ECCs with a density below 1300 kg/m(3), a compressive strength beyond 60 MPa, a tensile strain capacity above 1%, and a thermal conductivity below 0.5 w/mK are developed. The inclusion of lightweight fillers and the variation in proportioning of the ternary binder can lead to a change in micromechanical properties, including the matrix fracture toughness and the fiber/matrix interface properties. As a result, the tensile strain-hardening performance of the ULHS-ECCs can be altered.

Automated summary

In this study, ultra-lightweight and high strength Engineered Cementitious Composites (ULHS-ECCs) were developed by incorporating lightweight fillers and tailoring matrix composition. The resulting ULHS-ECCs have properties such as low density, high compressive strength, good tensile strain capacity, and low thermal conductivity. The micromechanical properties, including matrix fracture toughness and fiber/matrix interface properties, of ULHS-ECCs can be altered by the inclusion of lightweight fillers and variation in ternary binder proportioning, leading to changes in tensile strain-hardening performance.