ASR: Insights into the cracking process via lattice fracture simulation at mesoscale based on the chemical reactions at microscale

In our former paper, based on a published 3D reactive transport model at microscale with the capability of simulating the chemical reactions involved in ASR, the location of expansive ASR gel related to the reactivity of aggregate, temperature, aggregate porosity and silica content in aggregate, is clarified. Based on the simulation results,...

Incorporating elastic and creep deformations in modelling the three-dimensional autogenous shrinkage of cement paste

A structure-based modelling framework was established to simulate the three-dimensional autogenous shrinkage of cement paste. A cement hydration model, HYMOSTRUC3D-E, was used to obtain the microstructures and ionic concentrations of the cement paste. A lattice fracture model based on the effective stress and effective modulus was used to...

The role of porosity on degradation of concrete under severe internal and external brine attack in confined conditions

It has been observed that a trench wall embedded in the soil of the Dead Sea has lost strength and is deteriorating due to brine attack. This phenomenon demonstrates that concrete wall structural stability and durability can be seriously endangered. Yet conventional analysis using macroscopic models is considered an oversimplification, as it...

Evaluating compressive mechanical LDPM parameters based on an upscaled multiscale approach

We propose an upscaled methodology for evaluating the compressive parameters of the Lattice Discrete Particle Model (LDPM) for a multiscale analysis of concrete structures. This methodology is based on mechanical and chemical models on a wide range of concrete scales. We show that the compressive mechanical parameters are related mainly to...

Microstructure-based prediction of the elastic behaviour of hydrating cement pastes

The development of the elastic properties of a hardening cement paste results from the microstructural evolution due to cement hydration. The elastic behaviour of cement paste can be predicted by a combination of the hydration model and micromechanical analysis, which originates from a microstructural representative volume where the elastic...

Modeling framework for fracture in multiscale cement-based material structures

Multiscale modeling for cement-based materials, such as concrete, is a relatively young subject, but there are already a number of different approaches to study different aspects of these classical materials. In this paper, the parameter-passing multiscale modeling scheme is established and applied to address the multiscale modeling problem...

Upscaling Cement Paste Microstructure to Obtain the Fracture, Shear, and Elastic Concrete Mechanical LDPM Parameters

Modeling the complex behavior of concrete for a specific mixture is a challenging task, as it requires bridging the cement scale and the concrete scale. We describe a multiscale analysis procedure for the modeling of concrete structures, in which material properties at the macro scale are evaluated based on lower scales. Concrete may be viewed...

Moisture movement in cement-based repair systems monitored by X-ray absorption

In concrete repair systems, material properties in the repair material and interface are greatly influenced by the initial moisture content of the concrete (or mortar) substrate. In order to quantify moisture profiles inside the repair system, X-ray absorption was used. Preliminary studies are performed first to determine the absorption rate of...

Failure Modes in Concrete Repair Systems due to Ongoing Corrosion

Corrosion of steel reinforcement is the main cause of deterioration in reinforced concrete structures. It can result in cracking and spalling of the concrete cover. After the damaged cover is repaired, reinforcement corrosion might continue and even accelerate. While the development of the corrosion cell is difficult to control, the damage can...

A 3D Lattice Modelling Study of Drying Shrinkage Damage in Concrete Repair Systems

Differential shrinkage between repair material and concrete substrate is considered to be the main cause of premature failure of repair systems. The magnitude of induced stresses depends on many factors, for example the degree of restraint, moisture gradients caused by curing and drying conditions, type of repair material, etc. Numerical...

Micromechanical study of the interface properties in concrete repair systems