Impact resistance of a novel expanded polystyrene cement-based material

The mechanical property of a novel expanded polystyrene cement-based material (EPS-C), which was prepared by compressing semi-dry materials molding, was investigated. The compressive behavior was analyzed by compression tests to gain the energy absorbed during failure. Performance for impact resistance was tested by a self-made device. The results figures out that the EPS-C has good toughness and can reach strain of 0.7 without failure. The stress-strain curve is quite different from that of normal EPS concrete. It can be divided into three stages and in the third stage the compressing exhibits the highest energy absorption. With the rising of cement ratio, the impact force absorption (IFA) decreases first and then increases. The impact energy absorption (IEA) increases first and then decreases. The lowest IFA and the highest IEA appear at the cement dosage from 233 g/L to 267 g/L and from 233 g/L to 300 g/L, respectively.