• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2005.05b
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• pp.321-324
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• 2005

This paper presents a preliminary study on the influence of material ductility on diagonal tension behavior of shear-wall panels. There have been a number of previous studies, which suggest that the use of high ductile material such as ECC (Engineered Cementitious Composite) significantly enhanced shear capacity of structural elements even without shear reinforcements involved. The present study emphasizes increased shear capacity of shear-wall panels by employing a unique strain-hardening ECC reinforced with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) short random fibers. Normal concrete was adopted as the reference material. Experimental investigation was performed to assess the failure mode of shear-wall panels subjected to knife-edge loading. The results from experiments show that ECC panels exhibit a more ductile failure mode and higher shear capacity when compared to ordinary concrete panels. The superior ductility of ECC was clearly reflected by micro-crack development, suppressing the localized drastic fracture typically observed in concrete specimen. This enhanced structural performance indicates that the application of ECC for a in-filled frame panel can be effective in enhancing seismic resistance of an existing frame in service.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.148-156
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• 2007

The fiber dispersion in fiber-reinferced cementitious composites is a crucial factor with respect to achieving desired mechanical performance. However, evaluation of the fiber dispersion in the composite PVA-ECC (polyvinyl alcohol-engineered cementitious composite) is extremely challenging because of the low contrast of PVA fibers with the cement-based matrix. In the present work, a new evaluation method is developed and demonstrated. Using a fluorescence technique on the PVA-ECC, PVA fibers are observed as green dots in the cross-section of the composite. After capturing the fluorescence image with a charged couple device (CCD) camera through a microscope, the fiber dispersion is evaluated using an image processing technique and statistical tools. In this image processing technique, the fibers are more accurately detected by employing an enhanced algorithm developed based on a discriminant method and watershed segmentation. The influence of fiber orientation on the fiber dispersion evaluation was also investigated via shape analyses of fiber images.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.21-31
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• 2017

Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC) is a special class of the new generation of high performance fiber reinforced cementitious composites (HPFRCC) featuring high ductility with relatively low fiber content. In this research, the mechanical performance of ECC beams will be investigated with respect to the effect of slag and aggregate size and amount, by employing nonlinear finite element method. The validity of the models was verified with the experimental results of the ECC beams under monotonic loading. Based on the numerical analysis method, nonlinear parametric study was then conducted to evaluate the influence of the ECC aggregate content (AC), ECC compressive strength ($f_{ECC}$), maximum aggregate size ($D_{max}$) and slag amount (${\phi}$) parameters on the flexural stress, deflection, load and strain of ECC beams. The simulation results indicated that when increase the slag and aggregate size and content no definite trend in flexural strength is observed and the ductility of ECC is negatively influenced by the increase of slag and aggregate size and content. Also, the ECC beams revealed enhancement in terms of flexural stress, strain, and midspan deflection when compared with the reference beam (microsilica MSC), where, the average improvement percentage of the specimens were 61.55%, 725%, and 879%, respectively. These results are quite similar to that of the experimental results, which provides that the finite element model is in accordance with the desirable flexural behaviour of the ECC beams. Furthermore, the proposed models can be used to predict the flexural behaviour of ECC beams with great accuracy.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.23-34
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• 2022

This paper presents experimental studies on reinforced concrete moment resisting frames that have engineered cementitious composite (ECC) in plastic hinge length (PHL) of beam/column members and beam-column joints. A two-story frame structure reduced by a 1:3 scale was further tested through a shake-table (seismic simulator) using multiple levels of simulated earthquake motions. One model conformed to all the ACI-318 requirements for IMRF, whereas the second model used lower-strength concrete in the beam/column members outside PHL. The acceleration time history of the 1994 Northridge earthquake was selected and scaled to multiple levels for shake-table testing. This study reports the observed damage mechanism, lateral strength-displacement capacity curve, and the computed response parameters for each model. The tests verified that nonlinearity remained confined to beam/column ends, i.e., member joint interface. Calculated response modification factors were 11.6 and 9.6 for the code-conforming and concrete strength deficient models. Results show that the RC-ECC frame's performance in design-based and maximum considered earthquakes; without exceeding maximum permissible drift under design-base earthquake motions and not triggering any unstable mode of damage/failure under maximum considered earthquakes. This research also indicates that the introduction of ECC in PHL of the beam/column members' detailing may be relaxed for the IMRF structures.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.75-86
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• 2012

This paper presents some research results on the shrinkage characteristics and frost resistance before and after cracking of FR-ECC(Fire Resistance-Engineered Cementitious Composite). Also, a waterstop performance and exfoliating resistance of multi-layer lining specimens using FR-ECC and flexural performance of beam member by repaired FR-ECC are estimated in this paper. Experimental results indicate that the plastic shrinkage crack and length change ratio of FR-ECC have been reduced as compared with that of the existing repair mortar, and that its crack resistance on the dry shrinkage is improved under the confining stress. As well as FR-ECC has been great in the frost resistance and its tensile properties under the cracked state have been not reduced by freezing and thawing reaction. In addition, beam member by repaired FR-ECC have been increased in the flexural properties such as initial crack moment, yeild moment, and its crack width has been controled in a stable by the frexural failure.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.541-549
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• 2015

This study was conducted to experimentally investigate the seismic retrofitting performance of non-ductile reinforced concrete (RC) frames by introducing engineered cementitious composite (ECC) wing panel elements. Non-ductile RC frame tested in this study were designed and detailed for gravity loads with insufficient or no consideration to lateral loads. Therefore, Non-ductile RC frame were not satisfied on present seismic code requirements. The precast ECC wing panels were used to improve the seismic structural performance of existing non-ductile RC frame. A series of experiments were carried out to evaluate the structural performance of ECC wing panel elements alone a non-ductile RC frame strengthened by adding ECC panel elements. Failure pattern, strength, stiffness and energy dissipation characteristics of specimens were evaluated based on the test results. The test results show that both lateral strength and stiffness were significantly improved in specimen strengthened than non-ductile RC frame. It is noted that ECC wing wall elements application on non-ductile RC frame can be effective alternative on seismic retrofit of non-ductile building.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.105-112
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• 2019

This study was conducted to examine experimentally the seismic performance of non-ductile reinforced concrete (RC) frames retrofitted with precast(PC) engineered cementitious composite (ECC) wall panels. The seismic performance was investigated through cyclic load tests on RC frame with different aspect ratio (h_w/l_w = 2 and 3) and installation position (center and both side of RC frame) of the PC ECC wall panels. Test results indicated that the seismic strengthening method using PC ECC wall panels is effective to improve significantly the strength, stiffness and energy dissipation capacity of non-ductile RC frame. Based on test results, it can be recommended to install PC ECC wall panel at the center of RC frame for improving the strength and to install slender wall panels at both side of RC frame for increasing ductility.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.17 no.5 s.89
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• pp.709-716
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• 2005

The objective of this study is to develop a high ductile fiber reinforced mortar, ECC(Engineered Cementitious Composite) with using raw material commercially available in Korea. A single fiber pullout test and a wedge splitting test were employed to measure the bond properties in a matrix and the fracture toughness of mortar matrix respectively, which are used for designing mix proportion suitable for achieving strain-hardening behavior at a composite level. Test results showed that the properties tended to increase with decreasing water-cement ratio. A high ductile fiber reinforced mortar has been developed by employing micromechanics-based design procedure. Micromechanical analysis was initially peformed to properly select water-cement ratio, and then basic mixture proportion range was determined based on workability considerations, including desirable fiber dispersion without segregation. Subsequent direct tensile tests were performed on the composites with W/C's of 47.5% and 60% at 28 days that the fiber reinforced mortar exhibited high ductile uniaxial tension property, represented by a maximum strain capacity of 2.2%, which is around 100 times the strain capacity of normal concrete. Also, compressive tests were performed to examine high ductile fiber reinforced mortar under the compression. The test results showed that the measured value of compressive strength was from 26MPa to 34 MPa which comes under the strength of normal concrete at 28 days.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.325-333
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• 2010

In this study, new moment-resisting precast concrete beam-column joint made up of hybrid steel concrete was developed and tested. This beam-column joint is proposed for use in moderate seismic regions. It has square hollow tubular section in concrete column and connecting plate in precast U-beam. The steel elements in column and beam members were connected using bolt. Furthermore, in order to prevent the premature failure of concrete in hybrid steel-concrete connection, ECC(engineered cementitious composite) was used. An experimental study was carried out investigating the joint behavior subjected to reversed cyclic loading and constant axial compressive load. Two precast beam-column joint specimens and monolithic reinforced concrete joint specimen were tested. The variables for interior joints were cast-in-situ concrete area and transverse reinforcement within the joint. Tests were carried out under displacement controlled reverse cyclic load with a constant axial load. Joint performance is evaluated on the basis of connection strength, stiffness, energy dissipation, and displacement capacity. The test results showed that significant differences in structural behavior between the two types of connection because of different bonding characteristics between steel and concrete; steel and ECC. The proposed joint detail can induce to move the plastic hinge out of the ECC and steel plate. And proposed precast connection showed better performance than the monolithic connection by providing sufficient moment-resisting behavior suitable for applications in moderate seismic regions.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.199-220
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• 2018

In this study, the effects of sulphuric acid on the mechanical performance and the durability of Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) specimens were investigated. The carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) and basalt fiber reinforced polymer (BFRP) fabrics were used to evaluate the performances of the confined and unconfined ECC specimens under static and cyclic loading in the acidic environment. In addition, the use of CFRP and BFRP fabrics as a rehabilitation technique was also studied for the specimens exposed to the sulphuric acid environment. The polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber with a fraction of 2% was used in the research. Two different PVA-ECC concretes were produced using low lime fly ash (LCFA) and high lime fly ash (HCFA) with the fly ash-to-OPC ratio of 1.2. Unwrapped PVA-ECC specimens were also produced as a reference concrete and all concrete specimens were continuously immersed in 5% sulphuric acid solution ($H_2SO_4$). The mechanical performance and the durability of specimens were evaluated by means of the visual inspection, weight change, static and cyclic loading, and failure mode. In addition, microscopic changes of the PVA-ECC specimens due to sulphuric acid attack were also assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to understand the macroscale behavior of the specimens. Results indicated that PVA-ECC specimens produced with low lime fly ash (LCFA) showed superior performance than the specimens produced with high lime fly ash (HCFA) in the acidic environment. In addition, confinement of ECC specimens with BFRP and CFRP fabrics significantly improved compressive strength, ductility, and durability of the specimens. PVA-ECC specimens wrapped with carbon FRP fabric showed better mechanical performance and durability properties than the specimens wrapped with basalt FRP fabric. Both FRP materials can be used as a rehabilitation material in the acidic environment.