Abstract
The applicability of mesoscopic models plays an important role in studying the mesoscopic mechanical properties of concrete. In this study, the computerized tomography (CT) test of concrete under uniaxial compression conditions is conducted using a portable dynamic loading equipment developed by Xi’an University of Technology and a medical Marconi M8000 spiral CT scanner. On the basis of damage partition theory, a probabilistic statistical method for determining threshold values is proposed, and a CT test images is obtained and divided into aggregate, hardened cement and hole-crack areas. A ‘structural random numerical concrete model’ is also established on the basis of the coordinates of each pixel unit in CT images. Uniaxial static compression and tensile numerical simulation tests are conducted. Results show that the structural random numerical concrete model can not only reflect the microscopic composition of concrete but also the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between aggregate and mortar. The ITZ thickness is approximately 0.04 mm, which is close to the real concrete sample ITZ thickness (approximately 10–50 μm). In the two tests, the specimen damage starts from the initial defects, and the damage crack expands through the weaker ITZ around the aggregate. No matter under the action of static tension or compression load, the damage cracks of the sample almost never pass through the aggregate. Most of the many cracks in uniaxial compression are shear cracks. However, many cracks form at the beginning of uniaxial tension, and only one main crack, which is roughly perpendicular to the loading direction, exists in the end.
Highlights
Since the proposal of ‘numerical concrete’ by Roelfstra et al, meso-scale numerical models based on finite element (FE) analysis have been widely used in the research of rock and concrete [1]
A number of efforts have been devoted to generating realistic aggregate shape, size distribution and spatial distribution in numerical simulations of concrete behaviour
On the basis of the definition of the concrete scanning section is divided into aggregate, hardened cement and
Summary
Since the proposal of ‘numerical concrete’ by Roelfstra et al, meso-scale numerical models based on finite element (FE) analysis have been widely used in the research of rock and concrete [1] In these models and methods, concrete is often simulated as an aggregation of aggregate (coarse and fine aggregates), cement mortar, and the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between them at the mesoscopic level [2,3]. Researchers have successfully applied this technology to characterise mesoscopic structure and study damage evolution of various materials, such as Man and Mier [19,20,21] mapped the realistic aggregate information of concrete microstructure obtained by CT technology into the lattice model to study the size effect of concrete by focusing on its strength and fracture energy. The crack evolution of concrete under tensile and compressive stress is studied
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