Seismic and wind resistance of natural pozzolan-based engineered cementitious composites: material characterization and numerical analysis

This study numerically evaluates the seismic and wind resistance of a building composed of natural pozzolan-based engineered cementitious composite (NP-ECC), using finite element analysis. To support the numerical analysis, a comprehensive material characterization analyzes the hydration, mechanical properties, and cracking pattern of samples cured over varying periods. Matrix fracture toughness, fiber bridging strength, and complementary energy continuously increased over time, supporting the material's sustained ductile behavior. These material properties were incorporated into the numerical model. To assess the resilience to natural hazards, the structural behavior of a three-layer building made of NP-ECC was simulated and compared with conventional reinforced-concrete building under wind and seismic loading conditions. Results indicated that the NP-ECC structure exhibited superior strength development, tensile ductility, and earthquake resistance compared to traditional reinforced concrete. The findings from this study showed the potential of the NP-ECC materials to improve the hazard mitigation performance under seismic and wind loading.