Effect of Fiber Content on the Mechanical Properties of Engineered Cementitious Composites with Recycled Fine Aggregate from Clay Brick

Abstract

In this study, recycled fine aggregate (RFA), also known as recycled brick micro-powder (RBM), was used to completely replace quartz sand for the preparation of green, low-cost ecological engineered cementitious composites (ECO-ECC). RFA was used to replace ultrafine silica sand in the range of 0–100%. Firstly, the optimal replacement rate of RFA was determined, and the test results showed that the ECO-ECC prepared by fully replacing quartz sand with RFA as fine aggregate had strain hardening and multiple cracks, and the tensile strain of the specimens could reach 3%. Then the effects of fiber volume fraction and size effect on the mechanical properties of ECO-ECC were systematically investigated. The results showed that the fiber volume fraction has some influence on the mechanical properties of ECO-ECC. With the increase of fiber volume fraction, the ultimate deflection of the material keeps increasing up to 44.87 mm and the ultimate strain up to 3.46%, with good ductility and toughness. In addition, the compressive strength of the material has a good size effect, and there is a good linear relationship between different specimen sizes and standard sizes. It provides a good basis for engineering applications. Microscopic experimental results also showed that fibers play an important bridging role in the material, and the fiber pull-out and pull-break damage effects are significant.

Keywords

• recycled fine aggregate (RFA)
• recycled brick micro-powder (RBM)
• strain hardening
• fiber volume fraction
• size effect