Experimental Study on Seismic Performance of Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) Square Columns

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of engineered cementitious composite (ECC) as a ‎means to enhance the seismic performance of short columns. Eleven ECC short columns and one reinforced concrete (RC) short column were ‎designed and tested under lateral cyclic loading with different fiber volume fractions(0 -1.5%) and shear ‎aspect ratios(3-7). The influence of fiber volume ‎fraction, and shear aspect ratio on crack pattern, hysteresis behavior, energy dissipation, failure ‎modes, and length of yielding region is presented and discussed. The test results show replacing ‎conventional concrete with ECC can effectively improve the seismic behavior of short columns. ‎Further more , ECC short columns show excellent ductility and damage tolerance. Results shows ‎larger plastic hinge lengths were obtained with an increase of aspect ratio and fiber fraction‎.The influence of fiber volume ‎fraction, and shear aspect ratio on crack pattern, hysteresis behavior, energy dissipation, failure ‎modes, and length of yielding region is presented and discussed. The test results show replacing ‎conventional concrete with ECC can effectively improve the seismic behavior of short columns. ‎Further more , ECC short columns show excellent ductility and damage tolerance. Results shows ‎larger plastic hinge lengths were obtained with an increase of aspect ratio and fiber fraction‎