Mechanical Properties of Engineered Cementitious Composites with Low Cost Fibers and Recycled Glass Filler

Abstract

The work presented in this article attempts to evaluate the effect of partial and full substitution of silica sand by fine recycled waste glass (RG) in M45 engineered cementitious composites. Two groups with a total of eight mixtures were prepared with 2% or without untreated polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers. Each group included four mixtures with RG substitution ratios of 0, 30, 60, and 100%. The compressive strength and flexural strength of all mixtures were tested at ages of 7, 28, and 90 days. The test results showed that the influence of RG was different for plain specimens from those with PVA fibers. For plain specimens, the incorporation of RG mostly increased the compressive and flexural strength at mature ages of 28 and 90 days, while this positive effect was not the trend at 7 days of age. On the other hand, the incorporation of RG had in most cases a negative impact on the compressive and flexural strength of specimens reinforced with short untreated PVA fibers.