Review on material specification, characterization, and quality control of engineered cementitious composite (ECC)

Engineered cementitious composite (ECC), also known as strain-hardening cementitious composite (SHCC), is attracting increasing interest in the construction industry because ECC has unique mechanical properties, crack resistance, damage tolerance, and durability. The properties of ECC have originated from the unique design philosophy for tuning the cementitious matrix, fibers, and fiber-matrix interface. To facilitate the applications of ECC in the construction industry, this paper aims at clarifying the specification, characterization, and quality control methods for ECC materials. The specification includes raw materials, processing and production methods, and key properties such as the fresh and hardened properties as well as durability. A two-stage quality control approach is presented to elucidate the quality control efforts before and during construction events. The representative ranges of ECC properties are introduced, and the methods for evaluating ECC properties and representative applications are reviewed. This paper provides guidelines for practicing engineers and facilitates the applications of ECC in the construction industry.