Multiple cracking analysis of HTPP-ECC by digital image correlation method

This study aims to characterize the multiple cracking behavior of HTPP-ECC (High tenacity polypropylene fiber reinforced engineered cementitious composites) by Digital Image Correlation (DIC) Method. Digital images have been captured from a dogbone shaped HTPP-ECC specimen exhibiting 3.1% tensile ductility under loading. Images analyzed by VIC-2D software and epsilon(xx) strain maps have been obtained. Crack widths were computed from the exx strain maps and crack width distributions were determined throughout the specimen. The strain values from real LVDTs were also compared with virtual LVDTs digitally attached on digital images. Results confirmed that it is possible to accurately monitor the initiation and propagation of any single crack or multiple cracks by DIC at the whole interval of testing. Although the analysis require some post-processing operations, DIC based crack analysis methodology can be used as a promising and versatile tool for quality control of HTPP-ECC and other strain hardening composites.