Effect of temperature on tensile performance of PVA-SHCC

Abstract

Tension and compression tests were conducted on dumbbell-shaped and cylindrical specimens made of a PVA-SHCC and mortar, varying the heating and heat removal times. When the PVA-SHCC was kept at −20, 20, 60, or 100 °C for 2 h and then immediately subjected to tension testing, its cracking strength and tensile strength decreased and the ultimate strain increased as the applied temperature increased. The cracking strength of PVA-SHCC specimens kept at 60 °C for 1 day was 20% higher, and the ultimate strain was 50% lower, than those of specimens kept at 60 °C for 1, 2, or 6 h. The authors thus point out that it is necessary to place specimens in the test environment sufficiently ahead of the test time, as the ultimate strain of SHCCs is prone to the effects of the temperature and drying within specimens during tension testing.