Permeability behavior of integral water-repellent SHCC under applied load conditions

Abstract

Strain-hardening cementitious composite (SHCC) with PVA fibers possesses a predominant tensile and bending strength. However, attributing to the existence of fibers in SHCC, the high strain is frequently appeared under different applied load conditions. More cracks are formed with the increase in strain, which significantly increases the permeability of SHCC. Mixing silane emulsion into fresh SHCC can prepare integral Water-Repellent SHCC (IWR-SHCC), and it is an effective method for improving the durability and permeability resistance of SHCC. This investigation aims to evaluate the permeability of IWR-SHCC under different applied load conditions. The capillary absorption test is used in this paper to evaluate the permeability behavior of IWR-SHCC. The capillary absorption test was carried out under loading and after unloading, and the water and chloride penetrations were measured. The results show that applied loads have a significant impact on the permeability behavior of IWR-SHCC, and the permeability is proved to increase with the increasing applied loads, and increases with the increase in curing time. Compared to the permeability behavior of SHCC, IWR-SHCC has better permeability resistance under the same applied load condition. Preparing IWR-SHCC is an effective way to improve the permeability resistance of SHCC under applied load condition.