Numerical Simulation of Aggregate Shapes of Three-Dimensional Concrete and Its Applications
Publication: Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Volume 26, Issue 3
Abstract
The plane extension method was used to model aggregate shapes of three-dimensional (3D) concrete. In this method, the convexity condition requires that the volume formed by all the extension points and border planes be positive. A test method is adopted that involved summing the aggregate volumes to judge the intersection and overlap of aggregates. In the 3D random aggregate simulation (3D-RAS) structure, the shape, size, and spatial distribution of the aggregate particles resemble real concrete in the statistical sense, and fundamental aggregate diameters within the same gradation are assumed to follow random Gaussian distributions. The fracture process test of a three-point notched beam considering the effects of inhomogeneous material was used to validate the proposed aggregate model. Numerical illustrations show that aggregate shapes play an important role in the failure process of beams. Parameter studies also show that, although the homogeneity index has only a small influence on the elastic modulus, it plays an important role in the nonlinear softening behavior. The aggregate distribution has a little influence on the overall mechanical response of the concrete composite. The interfacial transition zone (ITZ) thickness has a great effect on the ultimate load of the concrete. An optimal aggregate volume fraction should exist for the concrete composites.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by funds from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 50779011 and 11132003) and the National Basic Research Program of China (Program 973, Grant No. 2007CB714104). The writers are also very grateful to Professor Jean-Hervé Prévost (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University) for his helpful suggestions.
References
ABAQUS [Computer program]. Vélizy-Villacoublay, France, Dassault Systèmes.
Bazant, Z. P., Tabbara, M. R., Kazemi, M. T., and Pijaudier-Cabot, G. (1990). “Random particle models for fracture of aggregate or fiber composites.” J. Eng. Mech., 116(8), 1686–1705.
Bischoff, P. H., and Perry, S. H. (1991). “Compressive behavior at high strain rates.” Mater. Struct., 24(6), 425–450.
Box, G. E. D., and Muller, M. F. A. (1958). “A note on the generation of random normal deviates.” Ann. Math. Stat., 29(2), 610–611.
Dasgupta, G. (2003). “Integration within polygonal finite elements.” J. Aerosp. Eng., 16(1), 9–18.
Dasgupta, G. (2008). “Closed-form isoparametric shape functions of four-node convex finite elements.” J. Aerosp. Eng., 21(1), 10–18.
Du, C. B., and Sun, L. G. (2007). “Numerical simulation of aggregate shapes of two dimensional concrete and its application.” J. Aerosp. Eng., 20(3), 172–178.
Feyel, F. (2003). “A multilevel finite element (FE2) to describe the response of highly non-linear structures using generalized continua.” Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng., 192(28–30), 3233–3244.
Fu, G., and Dekelbab, W. (2003). “3-D random packing of polydisperse particles and concrete aggregate grading.” Powder Technol., 133(1–3), 147–155.
Garboczi, E. J. (2002). “Three-dimensional mathematical analysis of particle shape using X-ray tomography and spherical harmonics: Application to aggregates used in concrete.” Cement Concr. Res., 32(10), 1621–1638.
Guidoum, A., and Navi, P. (1993). “Numerical simulation of thermomechanical behaviour of concrete through a 3D granular cohesive model.” Micromechanics of concrete and cementitious composites, C. Huet, ed., Presses Polytechniques et Universitaires Romandes, Lausanne, France, 213–228.
Häfner, S., Eckardt, S., Luther, T., and Könke, C. (2006). “Mesoscale modeling of concrete: Geometry and numerics.” Comput. Struct., 84(7), 450–461.
Hillerborg, A., Modéer, M., and Peterson, P. E. (1976). “Analysis of crack formation and crack growth by means of fracture mechanics and finite elements.” Cement Concr. Res., 6(6), 773–782.
Kim, S.-M., and Abu Al-Rub, R. K. (2011). “Meso-scale computational modeling of the plastic-damage response of cementitious composites.” Cement Concr. Res., 41(3), 339–358.
Kwan, A. K. H., Wang, Z. M., and Chan, H. C. (1999). “Mesoscopic study of concrete II: Nonlinear finite element analysis.” Comput. Struct., 70(5), 545–556.
Liu, W. Y., Ye, W. Y., and Ge, H. (1986). “Experimental study on mechanical properties of fully grading aggregate concrete in DongJiang arch dam.” Water Power, 5, 8–14 (in Chinese).
Mori, T., and Tanaka, K. (1973). “Average stress in matrix and average elastic energy of materials with misfitting inclusions.” Acta Metall., 21(5), 571–574.
Nielsen, L. F., Thrane, L. N., Geiker, M. R., and Brandl, M. (2002). “On the effect of coarse aggregate fraction and shape on the rheological properties of self-compacting concrete.” Cem. Concr. Aggreg., 24(1), 3–6.
Petersson, P. E. (1981). “Crack growth and development of fracture zones in plain concrete and similar materials.” Technological Rep. TVBM-1006, Division of Building Materials, Lund Institute of Technology, Lund, Sweden.
Schlangen, E., and van Mier, J. G. M. (1992). “Simple lattice model for numerical simulation of fracture of concrete materials and structures.” Mater. Struct., 25(9), 534–542.
Skarżynski, L., and Tejchman, J. (2010). “Calculations of fracture process zones on meso-scale in notched concrete beams subjected to three-point bending.” Eur. J. Mech. A, Solids, 29(4), 746–760.
Sobolev, K., and Amirjanov, A. (2010). “Application of genetic algorithm for modeling of dense packing of concrete aggregates.” Construct. Build. Mater., 24(8), 1449–1455.
Stankowski, T., Runesson, K., and Sture, S. (1993). “Fracture and slip of interfaces in cementitious composites. I: Characteristics.” J. Eng. Mech., 119(2), 292–314.
van Mier, J. G. M., Van, V., and Wang, T. K. (2002). “Fracture mechanisms in particle composites: Statistical aspects in lattice type analysis.” Mech. Mater., 34(11), 705–724.
Wang, Z. M., Kwan, A. K. H., and Chan, H. C. (1999). “Mesoscopic study of concrete. I: Generation of random aggregate structure and finite element mesh.” Comput. Struct., 70(5), 533–544.
Wittmann, F. H., Roelfstra, P. E., and Sadouki, H. (1985). “Simulation and analysis of composite structures.” Mater. Sci. Eng., 68(2), 239–248.
Wriggers, P., and Moftah, S. O. (2006). “Mesoscale models for concrete: Homogenisation and damage behaviour.” Finite Elem. Anal. Des., 42(7), 623–636.
Xu, R., Yang, X. H., Yin, A. Y., Yang, S. F., and Ye, Y. (2010). “A three-dimensional aggregate generation and packing algorithm for modeling asphalt mixture with graded aggregates.” J. Mech., 26(2), 165–171.
Zaitsev, Y. B., and Wittmann, F. H. (1981). “Simulation of crack propagation and failure of concrete.” Mater. Struct., 14(5), 357–365.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Volume 26 • Issue 3 • July 2013
Pages: 515 - 527
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 6, 2011
Accepted: Nov 23, 2011
Published online: Nov 25, 2011
Published in print: Jul 1, 2013
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.