Lương et al. (2023) — Extremely-Ductile Slag Composite with 22.3% Tensile Strain Capacity

Citation

Quang-Hiếu Lương, Huy Hoàng Nguyễn, Phương Hoàng Nguyễn, Su-Tae Kang, Bang Yeon Lee (2023). Extremely-ductile alkali-activated slag-based composite with a tensile strain capacity up to 22%. Ceramics International, 49 (8), 12069–12078.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2022.12.057
Atlas layer: extension
Related Victor Li book chapter: Chapter 9: Green ECC (also Chapter 4)
Source PDF: primary_data/luong-2023-extremely-ductile-alkali-activated-slag-based-composite-with.pdfIJP07123E_Extremely-ductile AAS_CERI.pdf`
Extracted text: secondary_data/full_texts/luong-2023-extremely-ductile-alkali-activated-slag-based-composite-with_full_text.mdsecondary_data/full_texts/IJP07123E_Extremely-ductile AAS_CERI_full_text.md`
Source note: secondary_data/source_notes/luong-2023-extremely-ductile-alkali-activated-slag-based-composite-with_source_note.mdsecondary_data/source_notes/IJP07123E_Extremely-ductile AAS_CERI_source_note.md`

Why this paper matters

Establishes the ultimate global direct tensile ductility benchmark (22.34 %) for cementless alkali-activated slag composites (ED-AASC, R5-S8-M1) containing high silica sand ($s/b = 0.80$) and 5 wt. % recycled crumb rubber ($w/b = 0.18$, 1.75 vol. % PE). Delivers a compressive strength of 53.6 MPa (53.4 MPa), extraordinary flexural deflection of 103 mm, and all-time record performance indices ($f_c \cdot \epsilon_{ts} = 11.9\text{ MPa}, f_{ts} \cdot \epsilon_{ts} = 1.70\text{ MPa}$), surpassing the elongation of structural reinforcing steel.

Main contribution

World-Record 22.34 % Direct Tensile Ductility: Achieved a direct tensile strain capacity of $22.34 \pm 0.48\text{ \%}$ with $\sigma_{tu} = 7.63\text{ MPa}$ and $f_c = 53.6\text{ MPa}$ in R5-S8-M1, and $20.89 \pm 2.13\text{ \%}$ with $\sigma_{tu} = 8.19\text{ MPa}$ in R5-S8-M2.
Extraordinary Flexural Deflection & Performance Indices: Recorded an unprecedented beam deflection of $103\text{ mm}$, achieving record structural performance indices of $f_c \cdot \epsilon_{ts} = 11.9\text{ MPa}$ and $f_{ts} \cdot \epsilon_{ts} = 1.70\text{ MPa}$.
High Sand Content & MSI Sustainability: Successfully incorporated $s/b = 0.80$ silica sand without ductility penalty, reducing embodied energy by 30.1 %, carbon footprint by 39.1 %, and material cost by 13.9 % compared to HS-ECC.

Evidence summary

28-Day Compressive Strength: R5-S8-M0 = $52.7\text{ MPa}$, R5-S8-M1 = $53.6\text{ MPa}$ (53.4 MPa in Table 7), R5-S8-M2 = $54.7\text{ MPa}$ (Fig. 7 & Table 7, Pages 4 & 8).
Direct Tensile Performance (28d):
R5-S8-M1 (ED-AASC): $\epsilon_{ts} = \mathbf{22.34 \pm 0.48\text{ \%}}$ (World Record 22.3 %), $\sigma_{tu} = 7.63 \pm 0.23\text{ MPa}$, $\sigma_{fc} = 4.70\text{ MPa}$, Toughness = $1.38\text{ MPa}\cdot\text{m/m}$, $f_{ts}/f_c = 14.2\text{ \%}$ (Tables 4 & 5, Page 5).
R5-S8-M2: $\epsilon_{ts} = \mathbf{20.89 \pm 2.13\text{ \%}}$, $\sigma_{tu} = 8.19 \pm 0.39\text{ MPa}$, $\sigma_{fc} = 4.12\text{ MPa}$, Toughness = $1.29\text{ MPa}\cdot\text{m/m}$, $f_{ts}/f_c = 15.7\text{ \%}$.
R5-S8-M0: $\epsilon_{ts} = 9.81\text{ \%}$, $\sigma_{tu} = 7.92\text{ MPa}$, Toughness = $0.64\text{ MPa}\cdot\text{m/m}$.
Bending & Cracking Microstructure: 103 mm beam deflection; 86.4 saturated cracks with 0.95 mm spacing and $212.0\ \mu\text{m}$ width (Table 6 & Figs. 10–13, Pages 6–7).
Structural Performance Comparison: $f_c \cdot \epsilon_{ts} = 11.9\text{ MPa}$, $f_{ts} \cdot \epsilon_{ts} = 1.70\text{ MPa}$ (Table 7 & Fig. 15, Page 8).
MSI Life Cycle Metrics: Embodied energy $5930\text{ MJ/m}^3$ (-30.1 %), Carbon footprint $418\text{ kg/m}^3$ (-39.1 %), Cost $1030\text{ \$/m}^3$ (-13.9 %) vs HS-ECC (Fig. 16, Page 9).

Linked Atlas nodes

04_material_systems/green_ecc.md
02_concepts/strain_hardening_criteria.md
05_experiments/crack_width_distribution.md
05_experiments/direct_tensile_test.md

Relationship to Victor Li book

Primary book anchor remains Victor Li (2019), Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC).
Directly extends Chapter 9 (Green ECC, Section 9.5 MSI) and Chapter 4 by demonstrating that combining high sand content ($s/b = 0.80$) with 5 % crumb rubber flaw tailoring and high-shear mixing achieves a historic 22.34 % direct tensile strain capacity and 103 mm flexural deflection in a 53.6 MPa cementless composite, surpassing structural steel elongation.

Claim-evidence rows to add

Atlas node	Claim	Evidence summary	Page/Figure/Table	Status
`04_material_systems/green_ecc.md`	Tailoring high sand content ($s/b = 0.8$) with 5 % crumb rubber in PE-AAS composite achieves a world-record 22.34 % direct tensile strain capacity	Direct tension tests verified $\epsilon_{ts} = 22.34\text{ \%}$, $\sigma_{tu} = 7.63\text{ MPa}$, and $f_c = 53.6\text{ MPa}$	Page 12069:1 & 5 / Table 4 & Table 7 / Fig. 8 & 9	verified_from_pdf
`02_concepts/strain_hardening_criteria.md`	ED-AASC delivers unprecedented performance indices ($f_c \cdot \epsilon_{ts} = 11.9\text{ MPa}$, $f_{ts} \cdot \epsilon_{ts} = 1.70\text{ MPa}$) and 103 mm flexural deflection, exceeding steel bar elongation	Structural benchmark verified $f_c\epsilon_{ts} = 11.9\text{ MPa}$ and $103\text{ mm}$ flexural deflection	Page 12069:6 & 8 / Table 7 / Figs. 12, 14, 15	verified_from_pdf
`04_material_systems/green_ecc.md`	Incorporating $s/b = 0.80$ sand in cementless ED-AASC cuts embodied energy by 30.1 % and carbon footprint by 39.1 % vs high-strength ECC	MSI life cycle analysis confirmed 30.1 % energy and 39.1 % carbon footprint reductions	Page 12069:8 & 9 / Table 8 / Fig. 16	verified_from_pdf

Verification status

PDF preserved: yes (in primary_data/IJP07123E_Extremely-ductile AAS_CERI.pdf)
Text extracted: yes (PyMuPDF, 10 pages)
DOI verified: yes (10.1016/j.ceramint.2022.12.057)
Page/figure/table verified: yes (all checked in PDF text)
Claim-evidence matrix ready: yes

Cautions

Average crack width ($\omega_c = 212\ \mu\text{m}$) is wider than standard ECC ($<60\ \mu\text{m}$) due to extreme tensile deformation.
Multi-stage curing including 24 h at 80 °C is required to achieve 53 MPa strength with delayed-demolding $w/b = 0.18$ paste.