Investigation of Flexural Toughness of ECC Components Reinforced with CFRP Designed for Link Slab

Abstract The innovative link slab employs Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) with Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) reinforcement, attracting increasing interest. To study the synergistic performance of CFRP reinforced ECC bridge link slab, a series of ECC flexural members were conducted by using ECC combined with CFRP reinforcing material, which is designed for bridge link slab. The test results were presented and discussed based on the strain distributions and deformation relationship. It can be conclude that flexural toughness and multiple cracking behaviour of CFPR reinforced ECC elements were enhanced due to the application of CFRP reinforcement. The test results also revealed that flexural capacity of the ECC flexural members reinforced with CFRP bars was the highest capacity in all the test specimens. Interestingly, the specimens reinforced with soft CFRP grids had a similar ultimate strength as the ECC specimens without reinforcement. In addition, the cover thickness of CFRP bars within a reasonable range resulted in positive effect on bending capacity and reduced rotation stiffness of flexural members. Based on the experimental analysis results, the flexural toughness of CFPR reinforced ECC elements were evaluated using the methods of flexural toughness factor (JSCE‐SF4) and post crack strength method (PCSm), respectively. Flexural toughness expresses the flexural capacity and indicates the degree of ductility of CFPR reinforced ECC components without any sudden failure. It was found that the analysis method of JSCE could reflect the whole process of bending test and PCSm model reflected the flexural behaviour after the peak load accurately.