Tailoring engineered cementitious composites for impact resistance

This paper presents results of deliberate tailoring of engineered cementitious composites (ECC) for impact resistance. Microstructure control involving fiber, matrix and fiber/matrix interface was based on steady-state dynamic crack growth analyses accounting for rate dependence of composite phases. Uniaxial tensile stress–strain curves of the resulting impact resistant ECC were experimentally determined for strain rates ranging from 10− 5 s− 1 to 10− 1 s− 1. Low speed drop weight tower test on ECC panels and beams was also conducted. Damage characteristics, load and energy dissipation capacities, and response to repeated impacts, were studied.