Effects of crack properties and water-cement ratio on the chloride proofing performance of cracked SHCC suffering from chloride attack

This study aims at developing an SHCC mixture that offers improved workability and high rebar corrosion proofing performance while ensuring moderate tensile ductility. Specimens were made from several mixtures with part of the cement replaced with limestone powder, and with a reduced fiber content. Mechanical properties and corrosion proofing performance under tensile stress were examined to determine the effects of chloride in a simulated situation under uniaxial tensile strain. The results indicated that the fiber content in the mixture had no influence on the crack properties of steel reinforced SHCC under tensile load. It was found that the chloride proofing performance of SHCC with multiple cracks was affected by the crack properties such as the number of cracks and the accumulated crack width. Reducing the water-cement ratio was effective to enhance the chloride proofing performance of SHCC.