Theoretical and Experimental Study of Effective Shear Stiffness of Reinforced ECC Columns

Engineered cementitious composites (ECC) possesses characteristics that make it suitable in the zones of high shear and ductility demand of structural elements; however, there is a lack of an adequate model to predict its shear stiffness. A theoretical model for the effective shear stiffness of reinforced ECC (RECC) columns is proposed on the basis of the truss-arch model, with the consideration of the unique property of ECC material. A total of six column specimens subjected to cyclic reverse loading are conducted, and the main test variables include the shear span-to-depth ratio, the transverse reinforcement ratio and the axial load ratio. Results show that the shear contribution to the total deflection in the diagonally cracked RECC beam is significant, and the proposed theoretical model can predict the shear deformation with reasonable accuracy.