This research direction represents a next-generation, high-performance cement-based material technology developed in response to the core engineering challenges of conventional cement-based materials — namely high brittleness, susceptibility to cracking, and poor resistance to impact and fatigue loading. The central goal is to develop ultra-ductile and highly resilient cement-based composites that simultaneously achieve ultra-high tensile toughness, large elastic deformation capacity, and excellent durability, thereby addressing the cracking failure and durability problems of major infrastructure under extreme loading and harsh environmental conditions from the material level up, and significantly extending the service life of structures.

Core Research Areas

1. Green and Intelligent Component Design and Fabrication Technology

AI-assisted design is combined with industrial solid waste valorization technologies to develop green cementitious systems based on solid wastes such as fly ash, slag, and steel slag. Fiber type, dosage, aspect ratio, and spatial dispersion are systematically optimized to achieve synergistic improvements in mechanical performance, environmental benefit, and cost-effectiveness.

2. Multi-Scale Toughening Mechanisms and Constitutive Relationships

Atomic-molecular simulation, mesoscale mechanical analysis, and multi-scale experimental characterization are integrated to elucidate fiber–matrix interfacial bonding mechanisms, the cooperative bridging effect of multiple fibers, and internal damage evolution patterns within the material. Constitutive models for ultra-ductile cement-based composites under complex loading conditions are established, providing a theoretical basis for structural design.

3. Performance Evolution under Extreme Service Conditions

The degradation mechanisms of these materials under dynamic loading — including impact, fatigue, and seismic loading — as well as under single and coupled harsh environmental actions such as freeze-thaw cycling, chloride ion ingress, and sulfate attack, are systematically investigated. Long-term service safety is comprehensively evaluated.

4. Key Technologies for Engineering Application

Scalable fabrication processes and on-site construction methods for ultra-ductile materials tailored to different engineering scenarios are developed, addressing the key technical barriers to their application in high-speed railway ballastless track slabs, bridge deck pavements, tunnel linings, industrial floor systems, and other engineering contexts.

Representative Research Foundation and Achievements

• Principal Investigator of multiple related research projects, including NSFC and Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation grants, conducting systematic fundamental and applied research on ultra-ductile cement-based composites.

• Published more than 30 SCI papers in leading international journals such as Cement and Concrete Composites and Construction and Building Materials; holder of 6 authorized national invention patents in this area.

Research Outlook

Future work will further advance the green, intelligent, and multifunctional development of ultra-ductile cement-based composites. By integrating digital twin technology, full life-cycle performance management at both the material and structural levels will be realized. The application of these materials will be extended to seismic disaster mitigation engineering and infrastructure in extreme environments, providing core material support for the high-quality and sustainable development of infrastructure in China.