Experimental investigation on dynamic compressive properties of SHCC after freeze-thaw cycles

In this paper, the split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) test was used to investigate the variation of dynamic compressive properties of SHCC with various freeze-thaw (FT) cycles and strain rates. The full-field strain distribution and cracking characteristics of FT-damaged SHCC after the SHPB test were quantitatively and characterized by the high-speed digital image correlation (DIC) technique. The internal damage was analyzed using an X-ray CT imaging technique and SEM (Scanning electron microscope). Results show that dynamic compressive strength, energy absorption ability and dynamic increase factor (DIF) increase as the increase of strain rate, and these increase trends are weakened by the FT damage. The DIF model is established considering the number of FT cycles and strain rates. Variation of crack width in SHCC obtained through the high-speed DIC technique can be divided into three stages: linear increase stage, plateau stage and slow increase stage.