Clay micromechanics: experimental challenges and perspectives

The importance of physico-chemical processes at the particle scale for the engineering scale behaviour of fine-grained geomaterials is undisputed. Yet, despite great advances in the discipline, experimental evidence that fully resolves the clay micromechanics i.e. linking the evolving microstructure and interparticle actions under loading, is...

Simulation of cusp formation in mode II delamination

On the microlevel, cusps are formed during delamination crack growth under mode II loading conditions. In this work, two different approaches to simulate this process are presented. Firstly a cohesive zone method where cohesive segments are introduced between a pair of neighbouring elements when the traction between those elements exceeds the...

Multiscale material model for asr-affected concrete structures

One of the most harmful degradation process for concrete structures is the alkali-silica reaction. This process starts at aggregate level with a gel swelling and can produce damage up to macro level, by compromising the integrity and capacity of the structure. In order to better understand the complex nature of this phenomenon, a multiscale...