Semester of Graduation

Fall 2023

Degree

Master of Construction Management (MCM)

Department

Construction Management

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

The ability to implement Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) within our transportation infrastructure systems has been limited because of increased costs associated with the material’s high cement quantity. To improve cost- effectiveness and to create a more sustainable footprint, the use of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) has been explored. This study evaluated the effects of utilizing cement interground with limestone, Portland limestone cement (PLC), as a replacement for ordinary Portland cement (OPC). Additionally, the performance of the composites was analyzed when mixed with sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) as well as different classes of fly ash (FA). In doing so, the experimental program determined the surface resistivity, compressive strength, setting time, and uniaxial tensile strength of eight mixtures consisting of various sustainable materials. Incorporating PLC and SCBA in ECC exhibited a reduction in surface resistivity. However, five specimens satisfied the requirement for moderate chloride ion penetrability while three samples achieved low penetrability. Specimens containing PLC and Class F FA displayed increases in compressive strength over OPC. The use of SCBA as a partial substitute for fine aggregate displayed reduced compressive strengths. Both specimens containing Class C FA without SCBA, regardless of cement type, displayed the longest setting times. In contrast, the specimen containing PLC, Class F FA, and SCBA exhibited the fastest setting time. Overall, the inclusion of SCBA led to faster setting times compared to the equivalent samples without SCBA. All samples displayed tensile actions consistent with pseudo-strain hardening (PSH) behavior. The specimen containing OPC, SCBA, and Class C FA exhibited the highest tensile strength. No samples achieved the ECC ultimate tensile strength major physical property recommendation of 4.0 MPa, with the closest sample reaching 3.81 MPa. Conversely, all samples achieved a tensile strain capacity > 1%. When comparing the x performance criteria of conventional ECC, the findings of this study suggest that sustainable ECC exhibits resistance to chloride penetration, satisfactory compressive strength, and satisfactory tensile strain capacity. Material selections played a significant role in initial and final setting time. A reduction in uniaxial tensile strength of these sustainable composites compared to conventional ECC was observed.

Date

8-16-2023

Committee Chair

Hassan, Marwa

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