This　study　investigated　the　influence　of　microbead　dosages　(0,　5,　10,　15,　and　20%)　on　the　frost　resistance　of　expanded　polystyrene　(EPS)　concrete.　Five　groups　of　EPS　concrete　specimens　were　prepared　and　subjected　to　rapid　freeze–thaw　tests.　The　freeze–thaw　deterioration　of　EPS　concrete　was　assessed　using　macroscopic　indicators,　including　mass　loss,　strength　loss,　and　dynamic　elastic　modulus　loss.　The　underlying　deterioration　mechanism　was　revealed　through　the　analysis　of　the　EPS　particle–matrix　interface.　A　concrete　damage　plasticity　model　of　EPS　concrete　based　on　damage　mechanics　theory　was　established.　The　results　indicate　that　the　addition　of　microbeads　increased　the　strength　of　EPS　concrete　by　38–53%,　reduced　the　strength　attenuation　after　freeze–thaw　damage　by　8.1%,　and　improved　the　frost　resistance　level　by　10–60　grades.　The　optimal　dosage　of　microbeads　is　15%　of　the　cementitious　material.　The　interfacial　transition　zone　gaps　in　EPS　concrete　with　added　microbeads　after　freeze–thaw　cycles　are　smaller,　contributing　to　a　more　complete　hydration　reaction.　The　freeze–thaw　damage　model　established　in　this　study　accurately　reflects　the　freeze–thaw　damage　law　of　EPS　concrete　and　provides　a　reference　for　studying　the　mechanical　properties　of　EPS　concrete　under　freeze–thaw　cycles.　The　research　findings　of　this　study　can　enhance　the　strength　and　service　life　of　EPS　concrete,　expanding　its　application　scope　as　a　structural　material.　The　study　provides　valuable　insights　for　future　research　and　engineering　applications　related　to　the　frost　resistance　of　EPS　concrete.　©　2024　the　author(s),　published　by　De　Gruyter.