Repair concrete structures with high-early-strength engineered cementitious composites (HES-ECC): Material design and interfacial behavior

Aimed at realizing the effective strengthening and durable repair of concrete structures, particularly in emergencies like traffic interruption triggered by broken roads and damaged bridges, nine groups of specimens were designed and tested in this paper to develop the high-early-strength Engineered Cementitious Composites (HES-ECC) featured as both high early-strength and superior long-term-deformability. The high-early-strength effect of sulphoaluminate cement, silica fume, and Portland cement on HES-ECC was compared, as well as their influence on the deformation ability of HES-ECC. Moreover, the interfacial behaviors between HES-ECC and existing concrete structure were clarified, considering the effects of interfacial agents, interfacial treatment methods, and interfacial roughness. The results indicate that HES-ECC with 6% silica fume mixed could obtain both the high early-strength and superior long-term-deformability. The flexural strength at 3 h could reach 66.67% of that at 28d. The compressive strength could reach up to 28.7 MPa at 3 h, and the ultimate tensile strain could remain 4.21% at 28d. Cement paste interfacial agent could enhance the chemical adhesive bonding between HES-ECC and existing concrete while polymer modified interfacial agent was incompatible. The increased roughness of chiseled interface was beneficial to both the bearing capacity and the deformation ability. Interfacial shear performance of the grooved interface was scarcely deteriorated even if the roughness decreased by 54.18% compared with the chiseled interface. The recommended interfacial treatment is chiseled interface combined with grooved interface, as well as a thickness of 1–2 mm cement paste interfacial agent. This study provides valuable and credible experimental data for promoting the application of HES-ECC in repairing existing concrete structures in practice.