Deformation Properties of Rubberized ECC Incorporating Nano Graphene Using Response Surface Methodology

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Civil Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC) offers superior tensile strain capacity compared to conventional concrete.
• Partial replacement of sand with crumb rubber (CR) in ECC enhances sustainability and eco-friendliness.
• CR addition can degrade the elastic modulus of ECC, potentially leading to premature fatigue failure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the combined effects of crumb rubber (CR) and graphene oxide (GO) on the deformable properties of rubberized ECC.
• To evaluate the impact of CR and GO on compressive strength, elastic modulus, Poisson's ratio, and drying shrinkage.
• To develop a predictive model for these properties using response surface methodology.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Central Composite Design (CCD) to create 13 trial mixtures with varying CR (0-30%) and GO (0.01-0.08%) content.
• Investigated key mechanical and deformable properties: compressive strength, elastic modulus, Poisson's ratio, and drying shrinkage.
• Employed Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to model the relationships between CR, GO, and the measured properties.

Main Results:

• Graphene oxide (GO) addition was found to increase the strength of the developed GO-reinforced ECC (GO-RECC).
• The incorporation of both CR and GO significantly improved the mechanical and deformable characteristics of ECC.
• The developed RSM model demonstrated a high correlation between CR/GO content and the predicted properties.

Conclusions:

• CR and GO can be effectively incorporated into ECC to enhance its mechanical and deformable properties.
• The combination of CR and GO offers a pathway to more sustainable, durable, and high-performance construction materials.
• The predictive model provides a valuable tool for optimizing the composition of rubberized ECC for specific applications.