Experimentally validated meso-scale fracture modelling of mortar using output from micromechanical models

Experimentally validated meso-scale fracture modelling of mortar using output from micromechanical models

Zhang, H. (TU Delft Materials and Environment; Shandong University)
Xu, Y. (TU Delft Materials and Environment)
Gan, Y. (TU Delft Materials and Environment)
Schlangen, E. (TU Delft Materials and Environment)
Šavija, B. (TU Delft Materials and Environment)

2020

This paper presents a validation process of the developed multi-scale modelling scheme on mortar composites. Special attention was paid to make the material structure of real and virtual mortar specimens comparable at the meso-scale. The input mechanical parameters of cement paste (both bulk cement paste and interfacial transition zone) at the meso-scale were derived from results of micromechanical modelling through a volume averaging approach. Two constitutive relations for local elements were assumed and tested. By comparing with the experiments, the model using linear-elastic constitutive relation showed to be capable to reproduce the experimental load-displacement response satisfactorily in terms of the elastic stage and peak load. However, in the non-elastic stage a more realistic load-displacement curve can be simulated by considering the softening of cement paste using a step-wise approach. More importantly, the proposed multi-scale modelling scheme is validated by the experimental measurements. The proposed development offers the opportunity for the meso-scale model to become fully predictive.

Discrete lattice model
Fracture behaviour
Mortar
Multi-scale modelling scheme

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:adef0efa-20d7-4f48-a8ee-fce4d1474af9

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2020.103567

0958-9465

Cement and Concrete Composites, 110, 1-12

Institutional Repository

journal article

© 2020 H. Zhang, Y. Xu, Y. Gan, E. Schlangen, B. Šavija