Coupled effects of limestone powder and high-volume fly ash on mechanical properties of ECC

Owing to its exceptional strain capacity, which can reach hundreds of times that of normal concrete, and its reduced crack width, engineered cementitious composites (ECC) are a very promising solution for mitigating many of the problems that generate colossal backlogs of deteriorated concrete structures worldwide. However, research is needed to develop more sustainable ECC with flexible formulation that uses local materials. This paper investigates the coupled effects of using limestone powder in ECC as partial or total replacement for silica sand aggregate, coupled with using high-volume fly ash as a binder. The compressive and flexural strengths and fracture toughness for the formulated ECCs were examined at 3, 28 and 90 days. The results of this study demonstrate that sustainable ECC for resilient structural applications can be produced. It is aimed that more flexible formulations of ECC using local materials with lower environmental footprint could emerge and contribute to more durable and sustainable civil infrastructure.