Parameterized implementation of a triple refined modeling framework for mesoscale concrete

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• A refined modeling framework for mesoscale concrete is developed using the parametric method. • The refined geometric aggregate models that consider micro/meso-scale morphology are generated. • The refined aggregate placement process is performed using the 3D BPT and Bullet physics engine. • The refined material assignment scheme is applied to describe random-continuous fields of material properties. As a typical heterogeneous composite material, concrete’s complex physical and mechanical behaviors on the macroscale are controlled by its mesoscale components and material properties. This paper aims to develop a refined modeling framework for mesoscale concrete using the parametric method, including the refined geometric aggregate model, refined aggregate placement process, and refined material assignment scheme. The geometric aggregates that consider micro/meso-scale morphology are first generated procedurally. Different degrees of mesh decimating operations are applied to the aggregates, and then the aggregate surface is smoothed by the Laplacian smoothing algorithm to build aggregate libraries of different resolutions. The numerical framework proposed by Huang et al. [39] is adopted in this work to conduct 3D bin packing and simulate the compaction and vibration process through the Bullet physics engine, so as to obtain the mesoscale geometric model with a high aggregate content. Furthermore, the material assignment schemes based on the statistical distribution and spatial correlation theory are applied to describe random-continuous fields of material properties. The chloride diffusion coefficient is used to illustrate the material assignment process. The triple refined modeling framework proposed in this paper provides a reference for high-fidelity parametric modeling of mesoscale concrete.