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.