Multi-scale lattice method for mesoscopic crack growth simulation of concrete structures

Abstract

In order to study mesoscopic fracture mechanisms with lower computational cost, a multi-scale beam lattice method is developed to simulate the fracture process of concrete structures starting from meso-scale. In the multi-scale model, more real material meso-structural morphology can be considered in meso-scale region, where mesoscopic crack growth simulation is implemented. In macro-scale region, material is considered to be homogeneous for reducing computational cost. A crack growth simulation procedure is coupled in the multi-scale beam lattice method for considering stress redistribution due to one local crack initiation and growth. In order to consider the effectiveness and computational efficiency of the multi-scale modeling method, mesoscopic crack growth of a notched three-point bend concrete beam are respectively simulated by using multi-scale, pure meso-scale and macro-scale models. The simulation results are compared with experimental results, which show that the developed multi-scale beam lattice modeling method is effective and can be used to predict mesoscopic crack growth paths of concrete structures with lower computational cost.