Experimental studies on tensile behavior of reinforced engineered cementitious composite members with double steel rebars

Abstract

AbstractThis paper investigates the tensile behavior of reinforced engineering cementitious composite (ECC) members. Twelve reinforced ECC members were tested in uniaxial tension. The stress‐average strain curves, failure modes, and the strain of longitudinal reinforcement at selected sections were obtained during testing. The influence of reinforcement ratio on the load resistance and deformation capacity of members was determined. Test results showed that the tensile behavior of reinforced ECC members could be divided into three stages, namely, the elastic stage, the microcracking stage and the major cracking stage. ECC significantly contributed to the load resistance of reinforced ECC members before the formation of major cracks through tension stiffening effect. The load capacity and deformation capacity of reinforced ECC members increased with the increase of reinforcement ratios. For members with ungrooved steel bars, the ultimate load and ultimate strain increased by 130.0% and 115.2% with the reinforcement ratio increased from 1.01% to 2.26%. For members with grooved steel bars, the ultimate load and ultimate strain increased by 123.6% and 98.7% with the reinforcement ratio increased from 0.78% to 2.04%. Based on the test results, the failure mechanism of reinforced ECC members was analyzed and equations for predicting the load capacity of members were proposed. Comparisons between experimental and calculated load capacities suggested that the calculated results were in good agreement with the experimental values. The study on the tensile behavior of reinforced ECC members provides useful results for the design and application of reinforced ECC members.