Effect of polyvinyl alcohol fiber on the mechanical properties and embodied carbon of engineered cementitious composites

Abstract

Engineered cementitious composite (ECC) is a fiber-reinforced cementitious composite material that has garnered considerable attention from the building and scientific sectors. However, ECCs offer improved mechanical and durability characteristics compared to regular concrete. Fibers serve a crucial function in producing ultrahigh tensile ductility and autogenous fracture width control inside the micromechanical reinforcing system of ECC. This research discusses the various proportions of polyvinyl alcohol fibers (PVA) as reinforcing materials by total volume fraction in ECC in terms of mechanical properties performance, environmental consequences, and economic effects. A total of 60 ECC samples were cast to achieve the targeted compressive strength of 45 MPa of ECC mixture reinforced with 1%, 1.5%, and 2% of PVA fiber by the volume fraction. Though, the best compressive of ECC is calculated by 62.60 MPa at 1% of PVA fiber at 28 days. Besides, the tensile and flexural strengths are enhanced by 5.20 MPa, and 11.15 MPa at 1% of PVA fiber in ECC for 28 days respectively. In addition, the density of ECC is reduced with rises in the content of PVA fiber while water absorption is increased as the percentage of PVA fiber growths in the ECC after 28 days respectively. Moreover, the embodied carbon and energy are improved when the PVA fiber by the volume fraction increases in the mixture. It has been observed that the use of 1% PVA fiber by the volume fraction in cementitious composites is offering maximum strength and less embodied carbon and energy, therefore, it has been recommended for structural application.