Experimental and Multi-Scale Modelling Investigation of Printable, Low-Cement Engineered Cementitious Composites with Different Polyethene Fiber Contents (2026-02)¶

10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145629

van Nguyen Vuong, Jie Cheah, Lao Junying, Huanyu Zhao, Nguyen-Xuan Hung, Du Hongjian, Qian Shunzhi
Journal Article - Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 517, No. 145629

Abstract

This study investigates the mechanical and environmental performance of 3Dprintable engineered cementitious composites (ECCs) with 1.0 %, 1.5 %, and 2.0 % polyethene (PE) fibres, targeting enhanced structural efficiency and sustainability. Freshstate rheological tests confirm that modest fibre inclusion increased yield stress and buildability, enabling stable printing of complex geometries, provided fibre clogging can be avoided. Hardened-state evaluation reveals pronounced strain-hardening and multiple micro-cracking in all mixtures, with ECC with 2.0 % fibres achieving the highest tensile strain (∼5.3 %) and compressive strength (∼71 MPa), while ECC with 1.5 % fibres offers the most balanced strength-ductility combination. Anisotropic elastic-plastic properties are characterised using Hill’s yield potential, and multiscale micromechanical modelling provides homogenised material parameters for the matrix-fibre system. Extended finite element (XFEM) simulations capture the dominant crack initiation, propagation paths and multi-crack evolution trends, providing mechanistic insight into fracture behaviour. A cradletogate lifecycle assessment reveals that PE fibre addition slightly increases global warming potential but improves strengthnormalised environmental efficiency, making ECCs with 1.5 % and 2.0 % fibres competitive with ordinary Portland cement concretes of similar strength. This integrated experimental-numerical framework demonstrates how optimised fibre dosages can enhance ductility, load capacity, and sustainability, offering a scalable approach for designing SCM-rich, lowcement, highperformance ECCs for thinwalled and loadbearing 3Dprinted structural components.

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BibTeX

@article{nguy_jie_lao_huan.2026.EaMSMIoPLCECCwDPFC,
  author            = "Vuong van Nguyen and Cheah Chun Jie and Junying Lao and Zhao Huanyu and Hung Nguyen-Xuan and Hongjian Du and Shunzhi Qian",
  title             = "Experimental and Multi-Scale Modelling Investigation of Printable, Low-Cement Engineered Cementitious Composites with Different Polyethene Fiber Contents",
  doi               = "10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145629",
  year              = "2026",
  journal           = "Construction and Building Materials",
  volume            = "517",
  pages             = "145629",
}

Formatted Citation

IEEE

V. van Nguyen, “Experimental and Multi-Scale Modelling Investigation of Printable, Low-Cement Engineered Cementitious Composites with Different Polyethene Fiber Contents”, Construction and Building Materials, vol. 517, p. 145629, 2026, doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145629.

CMOS

Nguyen, Vuong van, Cheah Chun Jie, Junying Lao, Zhao Huanyu, Hung Nguyen-Xuan, Hongjian Du, and Shunzhi Qian. “Experimental and Multi-Scale Modelling Investigation of Printable, Low-Cement Engineered Cementitious Composites with Different Polyethene Fiber Contents”. Construction and Building Materials 517 (2026): 145629. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.145629.