Mesoscopic numerical simulation of fracture process and failure mechanism of cement mortar

Abstract

AbstractCement mortar is an important part of building material and a typical cement matrix composite material. In current work, the mechanical properties and failure mechanism of cement mortar under static compression are studied by using the Base Force Element Method (BFEM). The static compression damage program of cement mortar is compiled grounded on the BFEM of the potential energy principle. An elastic polyline damage constitutive model is put forward to express the meso‐damage and evolution process of cement mortar. A 2D random circular aggregate model of cement mortar was established. The numerical simulation of the uniaxial static compression is carried out, the stress–strain curve, damage process, and damage model are obtained. The strength of the interfacial transition zone and the failure process of hardened cement mortar were discussed. A mesoscopic equivalent model is proposed to analyze the mechanical properties of cement mortar by considering the effect of initial porosity.