Strain Hardening Cementitious Composites: material development, performance characterization, structural, and 3D printing applications

Strain hardening cementitious composites (SHCC) reinforced by randomly distributed short fibers has attracted worldwide attention. Extensive multiscale research of SHCC has been conducted in recent years and over 12,000 SHCC-related scientific articles have been published in the last two decades. Designed based on micromechanics and fracture mechanics, SHCC is characterized with strain-hardening and multiple-cracking behaviors under uniaxial tension through tailoring the properties of fiber, matrix, and fiber/matrix interface. SHCC overcomes the inherent brittleness of ordinary concrete & mortar, and avoids the catastrophic failure of concrete structures. SHCC has successful application in practical structural/infrastructural engineering in recent years and SHCC holds the potential to build self-reinforced structures via 3D printing technology due to its combination of high tensile strength and ductility. 

Despite the increasing amount of research published thus far on SHCC, many challenges and research barriers remain unresolved calling for further innovative exploration. The goal of this Research Topic is to provide the platform to demonstrate the up-to-date development of SHCC at the material scale. Further, this Research Topic will also cover studies on the bond behaviors between steel/FRP bar and SHCC, the structural applications in the repair and retrofitting areas and newly-constructed infrastructural fields, and 3D printing application of self-reinforced SHCC, etc. 

Researchers in the field of SHCC are encouraged to submit their work in the form of original research, review, mini-review, or perspective in this Research Topic on themes including, but not limited to:

·      Design of novel SHCC with low-cost fibers

·      Design of SHCC using alternative binders, such as LC3 and alkali-activated cement

·      Rheological properties of SHCC matrix and its influence on fiber dispersion

·       Static and dynamic mechanical properties of SHCC 

·       Shrinkage property and its alleviation measurements

·       Durability and long-term tensile properties of SHCC

·       Self-X performances (self-healing, self-sensing, self-cleaning, etc.)

·      Bond behaviors between steel/FRP bar and SHCC

·      Structural applications in the repair and retrofitting areas and newly-constructed infrastructural fields

·      3D printing application of self-reinforced SHCC