Mesoscale modelling of concretes subjected to triaxial loadings: Mechanical properties and fracture behaviour

Abstract

The mechanical properties and fracture behaviour of concretes under different triaxial stress states were investigated based on a 3D mesoscale model. The quasistatic triaxial loadings, namely, compression-compression-compression (C-C-C), compression-tension-tension (C-T-T) and compression-compression-tension (C-C-T), were simulated using an implicit solver. The mesoscopic modelling with good robustness gave reliable and detailed damage evolution processes under different triaxial stress states. The lateral tensile stress significantly influenced the multiaxial mechanical behaviour of the concretes, accelerating the concrete failure. With low lateral pressures or tensile stress, axial cleavage was the main failure mode of the specimens. Furthermore, the concretes presented shear failures under medium lateral pressures. The concretes experienced a transition from brittle fracture to plastic failure under high lateral pressures. The Ottosen parameters were modified by the gradient descent method and then the failure criterion of the concretes in the principal stress space was given. The failure criterion could describe the strength characteristics of concrete materials well by being fitted with experimental data under different triaxial stress states.