Numerical study of shrinkage and heating induced cracking in concrete materials and influence of inclusion stiffness with Peridynamics method

Abstract

This paper is devoted to numerical modelling of cracking in concrete-like materials by explicitly taking into account microscopic heterogeneities. A numerical method based on peridynamics theory is proposed. The formulation and implementation of the numerical method are first presented. Its efficiency in modelling the initiation and propagation of multiple cracks in heterogeneous materials is then demonstrated. The proposed method is further applied to the description of cracking process induced by drying shrinkage and temperature change in concrete composites containing different types of inclusions. The emphasis is put on the effect of inclusion stiffness on cracking patterns. A series of numerical simulations are performed. Comparisons between numerical results and experimental observations are presented.