Laboratory study demonstrates thickness-dependent freeze–thaw durability in engineered cementitious composite overlays, indicating distinct mechanical trade-offs between thin and thick layers.
This study examines how Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) overlay thickness influences freeze-thaw (F-T) durability under laboratory-scale conditions. Unlike studies focusing on bulk ECC behaviour or overlay applications without thickness-dependent evaluation, this work uses an integrated micro-macro framework relating microstructural observations to structural response. Concrete specimens overlaid with 2 and 4 cm ECC layers were subjected to 25 and 50 F-T cycles in accordance with ASTM C666. Performance was evaluated using bulk density, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), compressive, tensile and flexural strength, ductility, fracture energy, shear resistance, dynamic fracture energy, and scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). ECC overlays mitigated F-T-induced deterioration, but performance was thickness-dependent. The 2 cm overlay better preserved bulk density and UPV, whereas the 4 cm overlay provided superior strength retention, ductility and energy absorption. Microstructural observations supported qualitative micro-macro interpretation of fibre-matrix interfacial degradation and performance-based thickness selection.
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Akalın et al. (2026) studied this question.
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