Understanding fracture mechanism and behaviour of ultra-high strength concrete using mesoscale modelling

Meso-scale modelling of compressive fracture in concrete with irregularly shaped aggregates

“…The numerical approaches seem to be more effective to predict the fracture behaviour of concrete, among which the mesostructure-based models have been attracting more attention as the mesoscopic properties of concrete play an important role in fracture process in concrete [9][10][11][12][13][14]. These models make it possible to explicitly investigate the effects of structural features of concrete on fracture behaviour at the mesoscopic level, where concrete can be treated as a multiphase composite material consisting of coarse aggregates, mortar matrix and interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between them [15][16][17].…”

Aggregate Geometry Generation Method Using a Structured Light 3D Scanner, Spherical Harmonics–Based Geometry Reconstruction, and Placing Algorithms for Mesoscale Modeling of Concrete

“…Mesoscale modelling of concrete represents concrete in the mesoscale as a three-phase material consisting of aggregates, mortar and Interfacial Transition Zone (ITZ) and this technique is an efficient method to investigate about fracture and damage mechanics of concrete, local deformation mechanisms, durability characteristics of concrete and various concrete formulations (Comby-Peyrot et al 2009). Mesoscale modelling is the most useful and practical method to model the heterogeneities in concrete and understand how these heterogeneities affect the macro behavior of concrete (Thilakarathna et al 2020a).…”

Nonlinear Mechanical Effect of Free Water on the Dynamic Compressive Strength and Fracture of High-Strength Concrete

“…The traditional way is to use a powerful continuum-based finite element method (FEM) with the accurate implementation of mesoscale geometries, nonlinear material models including the behavior of interface zones, and pore fluid infiltration. Thilakarathna et al [ 41 ] developed a mesoscopic FEM model of concrete, which takes into account complex shapes of aggregates and accurate material models for mortar, aggregates, and interphase boundaries. They modeled mortar as elastic-plastic material and applied non-associated plastic flow law with Lubliner yield criterion and Drucker–Prager hyperbolic potential function.…”

“…A similar (Menetrey-William-based) fracture-plastic continuous model was used by Sucharda et al [ 43 ] and Valikhani et al [ 44 ] to describe inelastic behavior and continuous degradation of normal and ultra-high performance concretes. Niknezhad [ 45 ] used an approach similar to [ 41 ], with the Kachanov-Rabotnov damage plasticity constitutive model and non-associated plastic flow law. Interfaces were modeled in all the abovementioned papers using the model of zero thickness cohesive zone with piecewise linear (or sometimes nonlinear) traction-separation law.…”

“…Despite the advantages of the continuum-based approach, its application to simulate damage localization including crack weaving and branching, and the resulting size-effect meets well-known difficulties. As was mentioned above, the fracture surfaces are usually represented using approximations or models, which smear real discontinuity [ 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 49 , 50 ] or embed it (extended implementation of FEM [ 51 ]).…”