Abstract This paper introduces the concept of Integrated Structures and Materials Design (ISMD). ISMD combines materials engineering and structural engineering for the purpose of more effectively achieving targeted structural perfor- mance, by adopting material composite properties as the shared link. An application example, design of a bridge deck link-slab, is used to illustrate the essential elements of ISMD. It is shown that the composite hardened properties—tensile strain capacity, microcrack width, and Young’s Modu- lus, as well as composite self-consolidating fresh properties, are amongst the most important com- posite parameters that govern the targeted struc- tural performance of safety, durability and ease of design and implementation. These are also prop- erties that can be controlled in an Engineered Cementitious Composite—an ultra ductile con- crete, by tailoring the ingredients for desired fiber, matrix and interface micromechanical parame- ters. Broad implications of ISMD on educational approach, research collaboration, and next gen- eration infrastructure development, are briefly discussed. Keywords Composite Æ Micromechanics Æ ISMD Æ ECC Æ Bridge link-slab 1 Introduction In recent years, structural design codes in many countries have moved or are moving towards performance based design concepts (see, e.g. [1]) in place of the classical prescriptive approach. The performance based design concept allows for greater flexibility, e.g., in dimensioning and rein- forcement detailing by structural engineers. It also allows for a larger degree of freedom in con- struction material choice. To fully exploit this last aspect, it is desirable to have a larger repertoire of concrete materials, particularly those with prop- erties drastically improved over the limitations of current concrete. Performance based design creates opportunities for collaboration between structural engineers and materials engineers. In the last 10 years, systematic engineering of ultra high ductility concrete containing short discontinuous fibers has proceeded at a rapid pace, to the point where such materials have been placed in full-scale structures (see, e.g. [2]). Worthy of note is that these materials and their tensile properties are deployed for enhanc- ing structural functions. These include, for example, an ultra ductile concrete used in a super- thin composite steel/concrete bridge deck in V. C. Li (&) Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2125, USA e-mail: vcli@umich.edu Materials and Structures DOI 10.1617/s11527-006-9146-4 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Integrated structures and materials design Victor C. Li Received: 31 May 2005 / Accepted: 2 January 2006 Ó RILEM 2006