Effect of Incorporating Graphene in Engineering Cementitious Composite on Compressive and Tensile Strengths for Potential Application as a Repair Material

Concrete structures are susceptible to damage and deterioration over time. Different repair methods have been adopted to restore the integrity of structures and ensure their safety and longevity. Although jacketing is commonly adopted as a repair method, its implementation results in the addition of loads and reduction in dimensions and free spacing. In view of the challenges associated with the implementation of jacketing, development of ultra-high-performance engineered cementitious composite (UHPECC) is frequently discussed in research as it can enable jacketing to be performed using thin layers of repair material due to the higher strength-to-weight ratio of UHPECC as compared to conventional repair materials. Therefore, the adoption of UHPECC for jacketing can lead to the reduction in overall weight and thickness of the repair material while ensuring the longevity of the repair. At the same time, graphene, which is a nanomaterial that comprises carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb lattice pattern with a structure that is nearly transparent and a thickness of one atom, can impart strength that is 200 times greater than steel. In the light of the exceptional strength property of graphene, the effect of incorporating graphene in engineered cementitious composite (ECC) on strength was studied in an effort to further advance UHPECC research. Compressive and tensile strength tests were conducted on ECC samples that contain graphene added at contents in the range of 0.03–0.09% by weight of the binder. Results reveal an increasing trend in compressive and tensile strengths with respect to increasing graphene content.