1.

Introduction

1.1 Background of the study

One of the most appropriate materials which are widely used in civil engineering
construction is concrete, consisting of cement, water, fine and coarse aggregates. Though
concrete is convenient and inexpensive, its brittle behavior upon tensile loading is one of
its undesirable characteristics, so that leads to the development of fiber reinforced
Cementitious composites to improve this deficient. The brittle behavior of concrete is due
to the fast growing of single crack consequences to the sudden failure of the structure.
This kind of failure mode is resulted from a low ultimate strain around 0.01% and a
sudden failure without warning. [1]
In order to improve the tensile characteristics of concrete, fiber reinforced concrete
(FRC) was introduced and made by adding discrete short fibers to the concrete matrix.
Fibers which are currently used include steel, glass, carbon and polymer fibers.
Development of FRCs started in the 1970s. By that time, only glass fiber and steel
fiber were investigated. During the past 10 years, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber has been
introduced in the production of FRC (Fiber Reinforced Concrete), FRC was made by
adding discrete short fibers to the concrete matrix resulting to a new composite, which
exhibits a pseudo ductile behavior similar to that of steel and is called Engineered
Cementitious Composites (ECC) or so called “bendable concrete”. [2] The ultimate tensile
strain attained of ECC is between 2 to 6%, which is 200 to 600 times greater than that of
normal concrete. This new kind of material is very effective in transferring stress across
the cracks and fractures and occurred with the formation of multiple cracks. [1]
Even if the finding is resent, the study will help determine the feasibility of fiber
reinforced concrete in Ethiopia by considering all its benefits as mentioned above. We
will try to see the research in respect to economy, time, manpower and available skilled
labor.
 1.2 Statement of the Problem
Ethiopia is a developing country with a lot of large to small scale constructions
going on all over the country. To satisfy the requirement of the country’s infrastructure
and building demand it is becoming important to adapt new techniques to have a
manageable construction. It is a recent history that the cost of cement in the country was
very high due to the high demand put on cement factories. As a main construction
material, cement, has a main use of increasing the strength of concrete and as the cost of
cement is fluctuating year through year it is becoming more and more important to adapt
a new trend.
One of these new trends currently used in this respect is bendable concrete. It has a
high tensile strength which is attend by use of small fibers and cement. These small fibers
will take the place of the cement that would have been used in ordinary concrete and save
up cement and money in the process. This is not the only advantage of bendable concrete,
as it’s not important to mention the advantages since it’s already mentioned in the above
sub title.
Therefore, in this research we will try to see the applicability of bendable concert in
Ethiopia, by considering all the factors affecting the construction industry today.

1.3 Objective/Aim of the study

1.3.1 General objective
The main objective of this study is to assess or identify the applicability of bendable
concrete in Ethiopia. The study will try to collect, analyze and summarize data collected
in order to present the findings, for instance- to investigate the suitable properties of such
bendable concretes and introduce some of their possible applications along with its
applicability features in Ethiopia.
 1.3.2 Specific objective
Based on the above general objective the following specified objectives would be
addressed:
The objective of our study is to
 To have knowledge about Engineering Cementitious Composition (ECC).
 To create awareness of the technology in the university society
 To find out the promoting and inhibiting factors for the application of ECC.
 To assess the application of ECC in Ethiopia.
 If ECC can be applicable in our country, to determine the method of application.
 If it is not applicable, to find an alternative situation.

1.4 Significance of the study

The importance and benefit of conducting the study is to:
 Provide base line information concerning the history and applicability of
bendable concrete.
 Used as a SMALL reference to those individuals who are interested to
investigate further more bendable concrete and undertake a research far
more detailed.
 Gives recommendation as to how which concrete type; bendable or
reinforced is applicable to Ethiopia at current stage.
 Spark a light in the mind of the reader that however impossible or difficult it
seems to bend a solid material, with the right state of mind, it is POSSIBLE.
 1.5 Application of the study
According to above mentioned proper characteristics of bendable concretes, some
of their potential applications are
 Structures subjected to impact or 3-D loading such as highway pavements,
bridge decks, and blast-resistant building core elements
 Protective layer for enhancing the corrosion durability of RC structures
 ECC link slabs for expansion joint-less Bridge Decks
 Shear elements subjected to cyclic loading
 RC beams as durable cover for re-bar corrosion control
 Applicable at the hinging zone of a beam-column connection
 Applicable as pre-cast shear panels for building wall retrofits
 Structures subjected to large deformations, such as underground structures
which need to conform to soil deformation and requires leak prevention
 Extruded elements with structural properties
 Binder for radio-active waste treatment for leaching control
 Concrete structural repair
 Durable and sustainable infrastructure
 Earthquake resistant structures

1.6 Scope of the study

Though, it is important to assess the entire scope of bendable concrete, due to time,
lack of all appropriate data, financial constraints and the fact that it needs a high level of
study to understand the analysis, it is difficult to encompass all the necessary studies.
Therefore, in order to keep the depth and quality of study interesting the research
can be considered as, for the lack of a better word, “tip of the iceberg”.
 1.7 Limitation of the study
Paper is both finance and time consuming. When conducting this study, the fact that
the study is just a recent discovery, we might face shortage of adequate data, also time to
gather data from its appropriate sources and unavailability of sufficient supporting
materials are the limitations of the study.

1.8 Methodology of collection the data

1.8.1 Data source
Most of the data source will be the internet, as it provides recent and past research
on the study. But, as per its importance we will try to talk to individuals who have a
knowhow of the study and.

1.8.2 Data collection

To address the objective of the research, the following methodologies of data
collection and analysis will be used. This study will use primary data and secondary data.
Primary data will be gathered using face-to-face interview with Engineers in the field.
Secondary data are primarily to give comprehensive conceptual and empirical foundation
for study at hand. Therefore, by considering the available resource, financial, laboratory
study will be made on alternative methods on how to execute bendable concretes.
Extensive review of available literature and materials on the study will also be major
source of information.

1.9 Project Plan

To reach to the stated goal of the research we have proposed project plan to be
followed in respect to the due date of the project.
Stage 1: Try to collect an already made study in the field
Stage 2: Interview at least two engineers in the field
Stage 3: If there are already made experiments in the University laboratory, gather the
data and apply it to our research. If not, do the research.
Stage 4: Analyze the report from laboratory and Interviews
Stage 5: Gather the data from the previous stages and present the research
1.10 Study Period
Table1: Time schedule for the presentation of the research

January February
Activities
6--11 11--15 17--27 1--4 5--7
Data Collection          
Interview          
Laboratory          
Analyze data          
Present the findings         `

1.11 Budget Plan

Table 2: Budget Schedule for the preparation of the research

Cost
No. Item Quantity
Unit cost Total cost (BIrr)
1 Paper-Desta 1 Desta 80.00 80.00
2 Pen 10 Units 4.20 42.00
3 Print and typing 50 Pages 4.00 200.00
4 Copy 40 Pages 0.35 14.00
5 Data Collection   65.00 65.00
6 Laboratory materials   600.00 600.00
7 Miscellaneous Expense   200.00 200.00
Total 1201
Reference

[1] Kazem, Mohammad (2008). Improving the Mechanical Properties of Concrete

Elements by Bendable Concretes. Semnan University, Iran

[2] Office of Research and National Best Practice (2007). Insight into sustainable material
development. Michigan Institution of Transportation, USA