Weiliang Gao1, Shixu Jia2, Tingting Zhao2,3,*, Zhiyong Wang2
CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.139, No.3, pp. 3495-3511, 2024, DOI:10.32604/cmes.2023.046188
- 11 March 2024
Abstract The mechanical properties of interfacial transition zones (ITZs) have traditionally been simplified by reducing the stiffness of cement in previous simulation methods. A novel approach based on the discrete element method (DEM) has been developed for modeling concrete. This new approach efficiently simulates the meso-structure of ITZs, accurately capturing their heterogeneous properties. Validation against established uniaxial compression experiments confirms the precision of this model. The proposed model can model the process of damage evolution containing cracks initiation, propagation and penetration. Under increasing loads, cracks within ITZs progressively accumulate, culminating in macroscopic fractures that traverse the More >