Development of strain hardening cement based composite for concrete retrofitting purposes

Abstract

The ever-increasing population in earthquake-prone areas necessitates the modification of both the current buildings and those that have already been damaged. Installing earthquake-resistant parts is required for this. In order to fulfill the continually expanding need for retrofitting materials that are both efficient and economical, civil engineers are under great pressure to develop novel new materials. A recent development in the construction sector is cement composites that harden under stress. Small particles and fibers are both used to make these composites. The chemical may enter the creep of the damaged structure without causing any vibrations. In order to restore the structure's original virgin strength, the mechanical and durability properties of the cement-based composite with strain hardening have yielded positive results. These qualities contributed to the success. The SHCC has also been used to connect deck slabs since the addition of fibers boosts the material's potential for abrasion resistance. These characteristics are provided through the incorporation of fibres. The combination of glass-fiber-reinforced polystyrene, (Ground Granulated Blast furnace Slag) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers impacts the characteristics of a strain-hardening cement-based composite material has been investigated via experimentation, study, and analysis. A Ground Granulated Blast furnace Slag (GGBS) composition that varies from 10 to 30 percent has taken the place of the prior level of fly ash. PVA fibers with content levels of 2.0 and 3.0 percent, each measuring 12 mm in length, were employed in the experiment. These tests examined the compressive strength, tensile strength, and durability of a wide range of materials. The test findings reveal that although tensile strength and durability characteristics of the strain-hardened cement-based composite rose with a higher percentage of Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GBBS) content, compressive strength did not change significantly. It has been shown that better outcomes are obtained when PVA fiber content is greater. This is valid for both the mechanical strength and durability characteristics that different combinations have.