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A micromechanics-based design framework for high-strength, strain-hardening cementitious composites

Authors: Na Lian; Yunsheng Zhang; Yu Zhang; Zetong Gao; Rui Su; Haifeng Qin; Jiufu Zhang; +4 Authors

A micromechanics-based design framework for high-strength, strain-hardening cementitious composites

Abstract

In existing cementitious material systems, high strength and high ductility are often difficult to achieve simultaneously. High-strength cementitious materials typically rely on matrix densification to attain high compressive strength but exhibit pronounced brittleness, whereas strain-hardening cementitious composites achieve ductility mainly through fiber bridging and multiple cracking at relatively limited strength levels. To address this challenge, this study proposes a micromechanics-based design framework for high-strength, high-ductility cementitious composites (HSTCC). Building upon classical ECC theory, the framework integrates matrix densification, fiber network constraints, and fiber bridging micromechanics, and further formulates an energy-based strain-hardening criterion by linking fiber bridging energy with matrix fracture energy, enabling quantitative characterization of the conditions required for stable multiple cracking in high-strength cementitious matrices. Guided by the proposed framework, mix proportions satisfying coupled strength–ductility requirements were theoretically derived and validated through compressive, uniaxial tensile, and flexural tests conducted under different water-to-binder ratios. The results demonstrate that stable strain-hardening behavior with tensile strain capacity exceeding 3% can be achieved at compressive strengths above 120 MPa. These findings indicate that the proposed framework extends classical ECC micromechanics into high-strength matrix regimes and provides a physics-informed alternative to conventional empirical mix design approaches.

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average
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