Dynamic compressive properties and constitutive model of waste crumb rubber (CR) modified ultra-high performance engineered cementitious composites (UHP-ECC)

Ultra-high-performance engineered cementitious composites (UHP-ECC) are well-known for their outstanding mechanical properties under static and dynamic loads. However, the effect of modifying UHP-ECC with crumb rubber (CR) on its performance, especially under high strain rates, remains poorly understood. This study systematically examined the dynamic compressive behavior and characteristic failure patterns of CR-modified UHP-ECC under high strain rates using a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) system. The study focused on evaluating the dynamic compressive strength, stress-strain response, and strain energy density (SED). A dynamic increase factor (DIF) formula was developed based on experimental data, and a nonlinear viscoelastic constitutive model was proposed to predict compressive behavior across various strain rates. Results indicate that while the addition of 10% CR slightly reduces the quasi-static compressive and flexural strength, it significantly enhances tensile ductility. Under high strain rates, CR-modified UHP-ECC shows no substantial effect on peak compressive stress but a marked increase in peak compressive strain. The SED also increased by 20.2%, outperforming other high-performance materials such as UHPC and normal ECC. These findings demonstrate that incorporating 10% CR into UHP-ECC offers considerable advantages, particularly in enhancing structural resilience under dynamic loading conditions. The proposed nonlinear viscoelastic model accurately predicts the compressive behavior of CR-modified UHP-ECC, presenting significant implications for practical engineering applications where high strain rate performance is crucial. • 1.Dynamic compressive properties of CR-modified UHP-ECC were systematically investigated using a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) system. • The addition of 10% crumb rubber enhanced the tensile ductility of UHP-ECC, improving energy absorption capacity by 20.2% at high strain rates. • Dynamic viscoelastic ZWT model was developed and validated to effectively characterize the nonlinear behavior of CR-modified UHP-ECC under varying strain rates. • CR-modified UHP-ECC highlights its potential application for enhancing structural safety of critical infrastructure under high-velocity impacts.