Elastic wave propagation in a segmented X-ray computed tomography model of a concrete specimen

Abstract

The paper aims to demonstrate the synergy between X-ray computed tomography (CT) data for a concrete specimen and numerical simulations of elastic wave propagation in a purely numerical concrete model (NCM). Uncracked and cracked concrete specimens are scanned using X-ray tomography, and in a subsequent step, are post-processed to analyze the influence of concrete constituents on wave propagation behavior. Numerical modeling of uncracked concrete as a heterogeneous randomly-distributed medium is introduced. Homogenized material properties, the so-called effective elastic properties, are determined for the segmented X-ray CT images and the NCM. The results of both approaches are compared and discussed. Numerical simulations of wave propagation in the segmented X-ray CT model and the numerical concrete model are performed and compared. The influence of concrete constituents such as aggregate grains and air voids on wave propagation behavior is studied.