Beam-particle approach to model cracking and energy dissipation in concrete: Identification strategy and validation

Abstract

This paper focuses on the application of a beam-particle model to study the failure of concrete under complex loading. The formulation of the model is based both on lattice models and discrete elements models in order to capture cohesion, failure and frictional contact of the crack surfaces. To correctly describe the elastic phase, the peak load and the post-peak phase, the failure criteria is discussed and heterogeneities are introduced. The calibration of this model is detailed and illustrated. Finally, several test cases are analysed in order to validate the model.

Regularised crack behaviour effects on continuum modelling of quasi-brittle materials under cyclic loading

“…The validation of the model under multi-axial and cyclic loading, and therefore with respect to mixed-mode fracture and contact mechanisms, has been presented in [34]. The calibration procedure, also presented in [35], has intentionally been kept simple so as to ease the use of the microscopic model as a virtual testing machine. The procedure can be achieved solely relying on an elastic compression test to calibrate the two elastic parameters (α,Ē) of the Euler-Bernoulli beams of the lattice (see eq.…”

Lattice Element Models and Their Peculiarities

“…Many present lattice-beam models use Voronoi scaling or similar variations to compute the lattice parameters in the case of irregular meshes. Euler-Bernoulli beams with Voronoi scaling are used to construct lattice elements in [10,11]. The same scaling procedure is used with Timoshenko beams in [8,9].…”

“…However, lattice models have been recently enhanced to capture the collision between the unbonded particles with implemented contact algorithms [10][11][12][13]. Such models are very similar to cohesive DEM models with contact.…”

“…The latter is important for fragmentation under compression test. Contact detection and interaction between the released particles are enabled after the removal of the broken cohesive links [10,11]. The contact can also be modelled between the load platens and the specimen constructed from lattice elements [12,13].…”

“…Such favourable properties led to the vast usage of lattice elements in simulations of concrete micro-/meso-scale. Some of the notable lattice model applications to concrete are presented in papers of Schlangen and van Mier [4,5], Schlangen and Garboczi [2], Chang et al [22], Lilliu and van Mier [50], Karihaloo et al [23], or in some recent papers by Vassaux et al [10,11], Grassl et al [28,29], Cusatis et al [12,13,21].…”