Assessment of mechanical and heavy metal leaching behavior of resource-efficient engineered cementitious composites incorporating ultra-high-volume municipal waste incineration bottom ash

Abstract

This study aimed to research the feasibility of incorporating 100% municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash (MSWIBA) as a replacement for fine aggregates in engineered cementitious composites (ECCs). To improve mechanical properties, three types of polymer fibers (PVA, PP, and PE) were used with different dosages of 0–2% by volume. The effect of fibers content on compressive strength, elastic modulus, and other performance indicators such as peak strain, ultimate strain, damage evolution, and toughness index was studied. Results showed that while the elastic modulus and peak stress slightly decreased with increase of fiber content due to fiber agglomeration and increased macro-porosity, fibers significantly improved the deformation capacity and toughness. For instance, the MSWIBA-ECCs with 2% PP fibers showed the highest compressive damage energy of 205.47 J, a 79.48% increase over the control group, showing superior toughness. Additionally, this study developed a new compressive constitutive model that accurately predicted compressive stress-strain behavior considering fiber characteristics. Environmental assessment showed that MSWIBA-ECCs effectively immobilized heavy metals (Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn), with a solidification efficiency of 97%, ensuring compliance with Chinese environmental requirements. These findings suggest that MSWIBA-ECCs, combined with optimized fiber content, offer a sustainable and high-performance alternative for construction applications.

Keywords

• MSWI bottom ash
• MSWIBA-Based ECCs
• Microstructural analysis
• Compressive constitutive model
• Hazards leaching