Synergistic effect of carbon fiber, fly ash, and M-sand on the performance of Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC)

Concrete is known for its strength and other properties. But it lacks tensile capacity, due to which reinforcements are used in concrete. Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) are a ductile material that is known for its strain hardening with multiple cracking behaviour. This paper focuses on the development of ECC using carbon fiber and M−Sand. M−Sand was chosen as fine aggregate due to its easy availability, quality, and increasing scarcity of natural river sand. The effect of different dosages of carbon fiber on workability was investigated, with M−Sand providing sustainable and practical alternative to river sand. FE-SEM and Micro CT scan was conducted to analyse the microstructure of ECC. A high strength of 73 MPa was achieved with 0.25% carbon fiber and low w/b, while exhibiting good workability. Replacing sand with fly ash improved workability, reduced porosity, and improved strength.