Functional　materials　are　widely　used　by　introducing　functional　microcapsules　in　the　matrix.　The　individual　microcapsule　can　be　regarded　as　core-shell　structure　in　micro-level.　In　this　study,　mechanical　performance　of　individual　microcapsule　with　different　shell　types　(PUF,　silica,　and　nickel)　and　corresponding　microcapsule-modified　polymers　under　quasistatic　as　well　as　dynamic　compressions　are　studied　experimentally　and　numerically.　Results　show　that　the　strength　of　the　nickel　shell-based　microcapsule　is　two　orders　higher　than　that　of　the　other　two　microcapsules　at　different　strain　rates.　More　cracks　and　fragments　are　observed　in　microcapsule　subject　to　dynamic　loading,　which　indicates　higher　energy　dissipation　under　impact.　The　inclusion　of　nickel　shell-based　microcapsule　does　not　cause　strength　reduction　of　the　resulting　microcapsule-modified　polymer　at　all　strain　rates,　while　the　use　of　PUF　and　silica　shell-based　microcapsules　lead　to　significant　reduction　of　the　composites　strengths.　Nickel　shell-based　microcapsule-modified　polymer　shows　high　strain　rate　sensitivity　than　the　other　two　microcapsule-modified　polymers.　Furthermore,　nickel　shell-based　microcapsule-modified　polymer　shows　distinct　failure　modes　when　compared　to　the　PUF　and　the　silica　shell-based　microcapsule-modified　polymers.　While　matrix　cracks　tend　to　penetrate　through　the　weak　PUF　and　silica　shell-based　microcapsules,　they　often　propagate　along　the　nickel　shell-based　microcapsule/epoxy　matrix　interface　due　to　a　much　higher　strength　of　the　nickel　shell-based　microcapsule.　After　debonding,　sliding　of　the　fracture　surfaces　may　lead　to　the　final　fracture　of　some　weaker　Ni　microcapsules　in　the　nickel　shell-based　microcapsule-modified　polymer.　(C)　2020　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.