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

Journal Article · Mon Feb 15 04:00:00 EST 2021 · Cement and Concrete Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CEMCONRES.2020.106317· OSTI ID:23206383

Naderi, Sadjad; Tu, Wenlin; Zhang, Mingzhong ^[1]

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1. Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT (United Kingdom)

This paper presents a meso-scale modelling framework to investigate the fracture process in concrete subjected to uniaxial and biaxial compression accounting for its mesostructural characteristics. 3D mesostructure of concrete consisting of coarse aggregates, mortar and interfacial transition zone between them was developed using an in-house code based on the Voronoi tessellation and splining method, which enables to generate the realistic-look aggregates with controllable structural features such as content, location, size and shape. Based on the generated 3D mesostructure, the concrete damage plasticity approach was employed to simulate the compressive fracture behaviour of concrete in terms of crack morphology and stress-strain response against the shape parameters of aggregate. Results indicate that the shape of aggregate has a negligible effect on compressive strength of concrete, which is highly associated with the random location and size distribution of aggregate. The aggregate irregularity has a significant influence on crack initiation and growth of concrete.

• OSTI ID: 23206383
• Journal Information: Cement and Concrete Research, Journal Name: Cement and Concrete Research Vol. 140; ISSN 0008-8846; ISSN CCNRAI
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
COMPRESSION
COMPRESSION STRENGTH
CONCRETES
CRACK PROPAGATION
CRACKS
FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
FRACTURES
MORTARS
PLASTICITY
SIMULATION
STRAINS
STRESSES