Abstract
Differential shrinkage in particulate quasi-brittle materials causes microcracking which reduces durability in these materials by increasing their mass transport properties. A hydro-mechanical three-dimensional periodic network approach was used to investigate the influence of particle and specimen size on the specimen permeability. The particulate quasi-brittle materials studied here consist of stiff elastic particles, and a softer matrix and interfacial transition zones between matrix and particles exhibiting nonlinear material responses. An incrementally applied uniform eigenstrain, along with a damage-plasticity constitutive model, are used to describe the shrinkage and cracking processes of the matrix and interfacial transition zones. The results showed that increasing particle diameter at constant volume fraction increases the crack widths and, therefore, permeability, which confirms previously obtained 2D modelling results. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that specimen thickness has, in comparison to the influence of particle size, a small influence on permeability increase due to microcracking.
Highlights
Microcracking due to particle restrained shrinkage significantly increases the permeability of porous quasi-brittle materials, which often reduces the durability of these materials
A three-dimensional coupled structural transport network model was used for the analysis of microcracking in heterogeneous materials due to particle restrained shrinkage
A new coupled periodic network approach has been proposed, which combines periodic displacement/pressure-gradient conditions with periodic structural and transport networks. This new approach was applied to investigate the influence of particle size and specimen thickness on permeability for particle restrained shrinkage
Summary
Microcracking due to particle restrained shrinkage significantly increases the permeability of porous quasi-brittle materials, which often reduces the durability of these materials. In the two-dimensional numerical modelling, particles were often idealised as cylindrical particles and all cracks were assumed to penetrate completely the specimen thickness. In these two-dimensional analyses, increase of crack width resulted in a significant increase in permeability. The properties of the different phases are mapped onto a coupled periodic network Network elements with both nodes within the same particle are given the property of particles. The same structural and transport constitutive models were used with input parameters shown in Table 1 according to [8]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
