Cyclic loading effects on high-strength strain-hardening cement-based composites with PE fibres (PE-SHCC): crack development and material degradation analysis

Abstract This article presents experimental results from fatigue tests in form of load-controlled cyclic tension-swelling, i.e. repeated tensile loads and alternating tension–compression on high-strength polyethylene-reinforced SHCC, subjected to a sinusoidal loading regime with a fixed upper load limit and variable lower stress levels, corresponding to zero, moderate and high compression depending on the load regime. To assess material degradation, crack development and opening were determined using DIC during the cyclic tests. Electron microscopy of the fracture surfaces reveal different load-dependent degrees of material deterioration. Together with the results from DIC, a stable basis for the discussion of the material’s performance under the employed loading regimes is provided. The analysis revealed a decrease of the maximum number of loading cycles with increasing compressive stress leading to a more severe deterioration of the material that is reflected in both the mechanical performance and crack development.