Meso-scale simulation of concrete: Blast and penetration effects and AAR degradation

The study of concrete dam subjected to extreme loading conditions require the adoption of accurate constitutive equations. In this paper some recent results on the meso-scale simulation of blast and penetration effects on concrete will be discussed. The adopted meso-scale constitutive equation is the so-called Lattice Discrete Particle Model (LDPM) recently formulated at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. LDPM can accurately describe the macroscopic behavior of quasi-brittle materials, and especially concrete, during elastic, fracturing, softening, and hardening regimes. Tensile dominated experimental tests under both dynamic conditions were numerically simulated. After presenting examples of simulations relevant to quasi-static and dynamic concrete behavior, LDPM simulation of the effect of air blast pressure, on concrete will be discussed. Finally, the problem of the extrapolations of laboratory tests to actual in-situ conditions is also presented.