Stress–Strain Properties and Gas Permeability Evolution of Hybrid Fiber Engineered Cementitious Composites in the Process of Compression

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-steel hybrid fiber reinforced engineered cementitious composites (ECC) characterized by optimal combination of high strength and high ductility were developed recently. These composites exhibit even tighter crack width than normal ECC, showing great potential for lower permeability in cracked state, and consequently improving the durability of ECC structures. In addition, the wide variety of promising applications in underground or hydraulic structures calls for knowledge on the mechanical behavior and corresponding permeability properties of strained ECC under multiaxial stress, as they are essential for structural analysis and durability design. Experimental investigations into the compressive properties and the in-situ gas permeability of PVA-steel hybrid fiber ECC were performed in this study, with special focus on the impact of additional steel fiber content and confining pressure. The test results show that the presence of a low confinement level allows ECC to attain a substantial improvement on compressive behavior but impairs the enhancement efficiency of additional steel fiber. The permeability evolution of strained ECC corresponds to the variation of radial strains, both of which experience little change below the threshold stress but a rapid increase beyond the peak axial strain. Apart from exhibiting low permeability at relatively small strains in the pre-peak stage, ECC can also exhibit low permeability at higher levels of compressive strain up to 2.0%. However, unlike the case in tensile loading, impermeability of cracked ECC in compression would be weakened by additional steel fibers, especially in the post-peak stage. The present research is expected to provide insight into performance-based durability design of structures made of or strengthened with ECC.