Structural Performance of Steel Reinforced PVA-ECC Beams Subjected to Fatigue Flexural Loading

Abstract

Engineered cementitious composite (ECC), known for its superior tensile strain hardening behaviour and multiple microcrackings, is considered promising to enhance fatigue performance of the structures. However, the performance of ECC structural members under fatigue loading has been rarely investigated. This paper presents the results of an experimental study on the flexural fatigue performance of steel reinforced polyvinyl alcohol-engineered cementitious composite (PVA-ECC) beams. A recently developed PVA-ECC using local dune sand was employed in this study. Cyclic loading with a constant amplitude and a frequency of 1 Hz was applied through a four point loading apparatus. Four steel reinforced PVA-ECC beams were tested under four load ranges, respectively. Experimental results showed that all reinforced PVA-ECC beams tested under different load ranges exhibited flexural failure, which is characterized with the fracture of tensile reinforcement bars and concrete crushing in the compression zone. Furthermore, the development of the mid-span deflection and the load range-fatigue life relationship of the tested beams are presented in this paper.