Investigation of drying-induced non-uniform deformation, stress, and micro-crack propagation in concrete. (November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gao, Peng; Chen, Yang; Huang, Haoliang; Qian, Zhiwei; Schlangen, Erik; Wei, Jiangxiong; Yu, Qijun
• Is Part Of: Cement & concrete composites. Volume 114(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-11
• Subjects: Digital image correlation -- Drying shrinkage -- Non-uniform deformation -- Micro-cracks -- Stress; Composite-reinforced concrete -- Periodicals; Concrete -- Periodicals; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Composites de ciment -- Périodiques; Béton -- Périodiques; Composites -- Périodiques; Béton léger -- Périodiques; Cement composites; Composite materials; Composite-reinforced concrete; Concrete; Lightweight concrete; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 620.135
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2020.103786
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0958-9465

Abstract

Abstract: Concrete generally deforms and cracks in a non-uniform manner under drying-induced stress. This study used the lattice fracture model to simulate the drying-induced non-uniform deformations, stresses, and micro-crack propagation in concrete. Experiments were designed to validate the lattice fracture model, wherein the drying-induced non-uniform deformations and micro-crack patterns in concrete were measured using a digital image correlation technique and a fluorescent epoxy impregnation method, respectively. It was found that the simulated non-uniform deformations and micro-crack patterns were close to the experimental observations. The interaction mechanism between drying-induced non-uniform stresses and micro-cracks was analysed based on the validated lattice fracture model. The micro-cracks were found to cause stress concentration both in coarse aggregate and the mortar that covered coarse aggregate, which could lead to high micro-cracking risk as drying continues.