Predicting the Ultimate Properties of Engineered Cementitious Composites by Maturity Method

Abstract

This study examines the application of the maturity method to obtain the ultimate properties of ECC. Within the scope of the study, the maturity method according to the Arrhenius equation was applied to four different ECC mixtures encountered in the literature: the activation energies and the ages at which they achieve ultimate properties were determined. Subsequently, the mixtures were subjected to standard and accelerated curing to reach an equivalent age of 1 year. The properties of the specimens at 1-year equivalent age were determined after both standard curing at 23°C and accelerated curing at 60°C. Thus, both the validity of the maturity method and the effect of accelerated curing in ECC were evaluated. Mechanically, compressive and flexural tests were performed, while non-destructive tests such as ultrasonic pulse velocity, rapid chloride ion penetration, and resonant frequency were used to determine ECC properties. As a result, it was determined that all ECC mixtures achieved their ultimate properties in less than a year. Furthermore, it was revealed that ECC retains its distinctive properties even in the ultimate state. Additionally, while accelerated curing led to a slight decrease in all properties compared to normal curing, it contributed to a slight improvement in deformation capacity. Nevertheless, considering the proximity of the results between normal and accelerated curing, it can be concluded that accelerated curing has the potential to be applied in ECC, and based on the findings, the maturity method has the potential to predict the long-term properties of ECC mixtures.