Macro- and Micro-Properties of Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECCs) Incorporating Industrial Waste Materials: A Review

Engineered cementitious composites (ECCs) possessing strain-hardening behavior have been developed utilizing supplementary cementitious materials and fibers. The developed ECCs exhibit excellent performance in terms of mechanical and thermal properties and are highly durable. However, the latest trend is to use industrial waste materials (IWMs), as alkali-activated materials, in the development of ECCs. In this paper, a state-of-the-art review on the development of sustainable-ECCs utilizing IWMs is presented. The formulations of binders and fibers, used in the production of ECCs, are described. The effect of mixture composition on the mechanical properties, such as compressive and tensile strength, and durability of ECCs is discussed. In addition, the importance of micromechanics modeling for producing a strain-hardened ECC is presented. Further, the engineering applications of ECCs in structural and repair fields are discussed along with suggestions for future research.