Constitutive Modeling of Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC)

As research in ECC advances from material development to structural applications, the need for accurate constitutive models that capture ECC’s response under load becomes increasingly apparent. When combined with finite element method, constitutive models of ECC can be utilized to simulate structural response. Such simulations are useful to develop a better understanding of how the unique properties of ECC, such as tensile ductility and crack width control, can be translated into advantageous structural performances. Ultimately, high fidelity numerical simulation of ECC structural behavior can lead to a reduction in the amount of experimentation needed to gain confidence in full-scale structural deployment of ECC. Further, constitutive models can be helpful in the deployment of integrated structural and materials design approach, where targeted structural performance can be downlinked to composite properties and material composition and microstructures. Such scale-linkage provides an efficient basis for ECC material design for optimal structural performance.