A discrete numerical model for the effects of crack healing on the behaviour of ordinary plain concrete: Implementation, calibration, and validation

Antonio Cibelli, Madura Pathirage, Gianluca Cusatis, Liberato Ferrara, Giovanni Di Luzio*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

In the last decade the self-healing of cracks in cementitious materials has been gaining an increasing interest by both the concrete industry and the scientific community. Framed into the Horizon 2020 project ReSHEALience, the present research work aims to formulate a proposal for the numerical modelling of autogenous and stimulated autogenous healing in ordinary plain cement-based materials, whose composition is enriched, in the latter case, with crystalline admixtures. In this paper a meso-scale discrete model that also considers the healing process is presented, relying on the coupling and the enhancement of two models: the Hygro-Thermo-Chemical model, for the simulation of chemical, moisture and heat transport phenomena, and the Lattice Discrete Particle Model, for the mechanical part. The evolution of the healing phenomenon is implemented into the HTC discrete formulation, in order to simulate the degree of crack closure over time. The latter is then employed to capture how the self-repairing affects both moisture permeability and mechanical performances. Finally, the results of a laboratory campaign, carried out at the Politecnico di Milano, are used for calibrating and validating the model presented.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number108266
JournalEngineering Fracture Mechanics
Volume263
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 15 2022

Funding

The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Antonio Cibelli reports financial support was provided by European Union Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 760824. The work described in this paper has been performed in the framework of the project ReSHEALience ? Rethinking coastal defence and green-energy Service infrastructures through enHancEd-durAbiLity high-performance cement-based materials, whose funding the first, fourth and last author gratefully acknowledge. This project has received funding from the European Union Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 760824. The information and views set out in this publication do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the European Commission. Neither the European Union institutions and bodies nor any person acting on their behalf, may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Keywords

  • Autogenous healing
  • Cementitious composites
  • Concrete
  • Concrete cracking
  • Crystalline admixtures
  • Hygro-thermo-chemo-mechanical model
  • Lattice Discrete Particle Model
  • Self-healing
  • Stimulated autogenous healing

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Materials Science
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering

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