Discrete lattice fracture modelling of hydrated cement paste under uniaxial compression at micro-scale

Discrete lattice fracture modelling of hydrated cement paste under uniaxial compression at micro-scale

Jiang, Nengdong (Shandong University)
Zhang, Hongzhi (Shandong University)
Chang, Z. (TU Delft Materials and Environment)
Schlangen, E. (TU Delft Materials and Environment)
Ge, Zhi (Shandong University)
Šavija, B. (TU Delft Materials and Environment)

2020

A combination of laboratory experiments and numerical simulations at multiple length scales can provide in-depth understanding of fracture behaviour of hydrated cement paste (HCP). To that end, the current work presents a numerical study on compressive failure of hydrated cement paste (HCP) at the micro-scale. Virtual specimens consisting of various phases were obtained using a combination of X-ray computed tomography and image segmentation techniques. The discrete lattice fracture model was used for the deformation and fracture analysis of the specimens subjected to uniaxial compression. The input local mechanical properties of each individual phase were taken from the literature in which a micro-scale compression test was conducted for the calibration of the same type model. The influence of slenderness ratios (1 and 2), water-to-cement ratios (0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 respectively) and lateral confinement of the specimen ends (free and restricted) on the failure behaviour were investigated. It has been shown by the current study that the stress–strain response cannot be completely separated from the used boundary conditions. The proposed model provides an effective tool to understand the compressive fracture behaviour of cement paste at the micro-scale.

Compressive behaviour
Discrete lattice model
Hydrated cement paste
Micro-scale
Micromechanical properties

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:a7161cc0-df9a-48eb-9a69-c56fd669ef7b

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.120153

2021-01-18

0950-0618

Construction and Building Materials, 263, 120153

Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.

Institutional Repository

journal article

© 2020 Nengdong Jiang, Hongzhi Zhang, Z. Chang, E. Schlangen, Zhi Ge, B. Šavija