Modelling of cracking mechanisms in cementitious materials: The transition from diffuse microcracking to localized macrocracking

Mihai, Iulia C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6725-2048, Bains, A. and Grassl, P. 2022. Modelling of cracking mechanisms in cementitious materials: The transition from diffuse microcracking to localized macrocracking. Meschke, Gunther, Pichler, Bernhard and Rots, Jan G., eds. Computational Modelling of Concrete and Concrete Structures, Taylor and Francis, pp. 212-217. (10.1201/9781003316404-26)

Preview

PDF - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (403kB) | Preview

Abstract

Cracking in cementitious materials still poses significant and interesting modelling challenges and structural designers need reliable tools for an accurate prediction of crack widths. The paper presents a numerical study into cracking mechanisms in cement based materials using lattice simulations employing the model of Grassl & Antonelli (2019). Furthermore, a micromechanics based constitutive model is proposed that focuses on representing the transition from diffuse microcracking to localized macrocracking. The model includes an Eshelby based two-phase composite solution to represent the aggregate particles embedded in a cementitious matrix, directional microcracking and a criteria for the transition from diffuse microcracking to localised macrocracking. By removing the macrocrack fracture strain component from the strain which drives microcrack growth, the effect of macrocrack development on microcrack growth in various other directions is included. Numerical simulations show that the model captures well the mechanical behaviour as well as key characteristics of the cracking mechanism in cementitious materials.

Item Type:	Book Section
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Engineering
Publisher:	Taylor and Francis
ISBN:	9781003316404
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	13 July 2023
Last Modified:	13 Jul 2023 10:50
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/160916

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item