Efficacy of Hybrid Fibre Reinforced ECC in RC Exterior Beam-Column Connections

The current research investigation was conducted to analyse the role of hybrid fibre reinforced engineered cementitious composite (HECC) in exterior beam-column connections. The specimens of HECC beam-column connections have been prepared with different fibre profiles, fibre hybridization and addition of stone industry waste. Three different profiles of short length fibres such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyester (PLE) and micro steel fibre (MSE) were poured in HECC matrices to assess the role of fibre hybridization. In addition, stone industry waste (SIW) was re-utilized as alternative of fine river sand (RS) in different HECC mixtures. To improve the structural behavior of beam-column connections nine different types of HECC matrices were introduced at joint core region. The performance characteristics of HECC based beam-column specimens were compared with fully Conventional Concrete (CC) containing specimens. The structural behaviour of joint specimens was examined under cyclic loading in terms of hysteresis load deflection behaviour, energy dissipation, ductility and cracking pattern. The recorded parameters validate that the joints with HECC matrices improved the load carrying capacity, ultimate deflection capacity, first cracking load, ductility and energy dissipation capacity of beam-column connections up to 31.1%, 60.9%, 39.6%, 38.9% and 121.8% respectively as compared to CC connections. Moreover, HECC matrices with hybrid dispersion of fibres and addition of SIW can be promising cementitious material to develop strong, superior and ductile structural elements.