Shear behavior of low-cost and sustainable bio-fiber based engineered cementitious composite beams –experimental and theoretical studies

The design of reinforced concrete (RC) members subjected to shear dominant loading is complex due to their quasi-brittle failure nature. Hence, a highly ductile material as a replacement for conventional concrete is essential to perform well under shear loading. Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC) is one such material designed based on micromechanical theory for achieving a high strain capacity of about 3%. The objective of the proposed research work is to develop a cost-effective ECC using bio-based natural fibers such as flax, hemp, kenaf, and pineapple for achieving a large strain levels under shear dominant loading. The test program consists of different ECC specimens with (a) 2.0% flax fiber, (b) 2.0% hemp fiber, (c) 2.0% kenaf fiber, and (d) 2.0% pineapple fiber. In addition, the ultimate shear capacity of natural fiber-based ECC beams are estimated theoretically using the AIJ method and the results are compared with the tests and FE predictions. Test results revealed that the use of flax fibers in ECC beams was highly effective in enhancing the ultimate load through an excellent crack-bridging mechanism when compared to the other natural fiber types. Also, the ultimate load predictions from analytical calculations matched well with the test results. •A novel bio-fiber based Engineered Cementitious Composite beams were fabricated and tested under shear loads.•Four bio-fibers such as flax, hemp, kenaf and pineapple were deployed for understanding the shear behavior of ECC beams.•Ultimate shear capacity of bio-fiber ECC beams were theoretically estimated using Architectural Institute of Japan method.•Considerable enhancement in shear transfer mechanisms of ECC using bio-fibers were achieved similar to artificial fibers.