Multi-Dimensional Assessment of Low-Carbon Engineering Cement-Based Composites Based on Rheological, Mechanical and...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Civil Engineering
• Sustainable Construction

Background:

• Traditional engineered cementitious composites (ECCs) have high carbon footprints due to Portland cement (PC) usage.
• Resource limitations exist for supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs).
• Developing low-carbon alternatives for ECCs is crucial for environmental sustainability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop low-carbon, environmentally friendly ECCs by replacing PC with limestone calcined clay cement (LC³).
• To incorporate hybrid synthetic fibers into LC³-based ECCs.
• To evaluate the fundamental properties and sustainability of the developed LC³-ECCs.

Main Methods:

• Experimental testing of fundamental properties of LC³-ECCs.
• Sustainability analysis including carbon emissions and cost.
• Development of an integrated evaluation framework using performance radar charts.

Main Results:

• Increased water-to-binder ratio (W/B) and superplasticizer (SP) dosage enhanced fluidity.
• LC³-ECC with 2% polyethylene fibers achieved an 8.40% ultimate tensile strain.
• Replacing PC with LC³ reduced carbon emissions by 19.1-20.8%; LC³-PP was 50% cheaper than LC³-PVA.

Conclusions:

• Limestone calcined clay cement (LC³) is a viable low-carbon replacement for PC in ECCs.
• Polyethylene fibers enhance tensile performance, while polypropylene fibers may degrade crack resistance.
• The developed assessment framework aids in optimizing LC³-ECC mixtures for practical applications.