3D Mesoscale Finite Element Modelling of Concrete under Uniaxial Loadings
Concrete exhibits a complex mechanical behavior, especially when approaching failure. Its behavior is governed by the interaction of the heterogeneous structures of the material at the first level of observation below the homogeneous continuum, i.e., at the mesoscale. Concrete is assumed to be a thr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Materials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/20/4585 |
| _version_ | 1797550954985291776 |
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| author | Tiago Forti Gustavo Batistela Nadia Forti Nicolas Vianna |
| author_facet | Tiago Forti Gustavo Batistela Nadia Forti Nicolas Vianna |
| author_sort | Tiago Forti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Concrete exhibits a complex mechanical behavior, especially when approaching failure. Its behavior is governed by the interaction of the heterogeneous structures of the material at the first level of observation below the homogeneous continuum, i.e., at the mesoscale. Concrete is assumed to be a three-phase composite of coarse aggregates, mortar, and the interfacial transitional zone (ITZ) between them. Finite element modeling on a mesoscale requires appropriate meshes that discretize the three concrete components. As the weakest link in concrete, ITZ plays an important role. However, meshing ITZ is a challenging issue, due to its very reduced thickness. Representing ITZ with solid elements of such reduced size would produce very expensive finite element meshes. An alternative is to represent ITZ as zero-thickness interface elements. This work adopts interface elements for ITZ. Damage plasticity model is adopted to describe the softening behavior of mortar in compression, while cohesive fractures describe the cracking process. Numerical experiments are presented. First example deals with the estimation of concrete Young’s modulus. Experimental tests were performed to support the numerical test. A second experiment simulates a uniaxial compression test and last experiment simulates a uniaxial tensile test, where results are compared to data from the literature. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:36:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b3d40e85ef644eeb83c75bdeb5d3a20d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1944 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:36:45Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Materials |
| spelling | doaj.art-b3d40e85ef644eeb83c75bdeb5d3a20d2023-11-20T17:10:43ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442020-10-011320458510.3390/ma132045853D Mesoscale Finite Element Modelling of Concrete under Uniaxial LoadingsTiago Forti0Gustavo Batistela1Nadia Forti2Nicolas Vianna3Simworx R & D, Campinas 13087-727, BrazilSimworx R & D, Campinas 13087-727, BrazilExact Sciences, Environmental and Technologies Center, Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas (PUC-Campinas), Campinas 13086-099, BrazilExact Sciences, Environmental and Technologies Center, Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas (PUC-Campinas), Campinas 13086-099, BrazilConcrete exhibits a complex mechanical behavior, especially when approaching failure. Its behavior is governed by the interaction of the heterogeneous structures of the material at the first level of observation below the homogeneous continuum, i.e., at the mesoscale. Concrete is assumed to be a three-phase composite of coarse aggregates, mortar, and the interfacial transitional zone (ITZ) between them. Finite element modeling on a mesoscale requires appropriate meshes that discretize the three concrete components. As the weakest link in concrete, ITZ plays an important role. However, meshing ITZ is a challenging issue, due to its very reduced thickness. Representing ITZ with solid elements of such reduced size would produce very expensive finite element meshes. An alternative is to represent ITZ as zero-thickness interface elements. This work adopts interface elements for ITZ. Damage plasticity model is adopted to describe the softening behavior of mortar in compression, while cohesive fractures describe the cracking process. Numerical experiments are presented. First example deals with the estimation of concrete Young’s modulus. Experimental tests were performed to support the numerical test. A second experiment simulates a uniaxial compression test and last experiment simulates a uniaxial tensile test, where results are compared to data from the literature.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/20/4585finite element methodconcretemesoscaledamagecohesive fracture |
| spellingShingle | Tiago Forti Gustavo Batistela Nadia Forti Nicolas Vianna 3D Mesoscale Finite Element Modelling of Concrete under Uniaxial Loadings Materials finite element method concrete mesoscale damage cohesive fracture |
| title | 3D Mesoscale Finite Element Modelling of Concrete under Uniaxial Loadings |
| title_full | 3D Mesoscale Finite Element Modelling of Concrete under Uniaxial Loadings |
| title_fullStr | 3D Mesoscale Finite Element Modelling of Concrete under Uniaxial Loadings |
| title_full_unstemmed | 3D Mesoscale Finite Element Modelling of Concrete under Uniaxial Loadings |
| title_short | 3D Mesoscale Finite Element Modelling of Concrete under Uniaxial Loadings |
| title_sort | 3d mesoscale finite element modelling of concrete under uniaxial loadings |
| topic | finite element method concrete mesoscale damage cohesive fracture |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/20/4585 |
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