The RILEM Multi-scale Modelling Course for Concrete (MMC2)

The RILEM Multi-scale Modelling Course for Concrete (MMC2) provides the opportunity for participants to become familiar with modelling cementitious materials at four levels of detail. Different ways of schematization and numerical approaches are considered to simulate the chemical, physical and mechanical behaviour of cementitious materials. The main back-bone of the course are the different modelling levels at which heterogeneous and composite cementitious materials can be schematized and how these different levels can “communicate” by means of parameters passing methods or through upscaling models. The modelling levels that will be taught in this course are the macro-, meso-, micro-, and nano-level. 

The course emphasizes different modelling approaches for each scale level and shows a couple of conceptual techniques on how “numerical gaps” between scale levels can be bridged. The course commences with the macro-scale level where emphasis is on early-age temperature and stresses development of hardening concrete, and how commercial FEM software can be applied. The meso-level deals with fracture mechanics and brittleness with emphasis on the Lattice model, followed by the micro-level which is on the hydration and microstructure properties using pixel and vextor-based approaches, and finally, the nano-level dealing with the backgrounds C-S-H gel using molecular dynamics and ab inito schemes. For the course participants, the MMC2 course provides a chance to acquire a glance of the varieties of numerical possibilities in an intensive course week of lectures and workshops. The course is set-up in such a way that theoretical lectures and practical workshops alternate day by day and, besides this, course participants are also invited to present themselves during elevator pitch talks. There will be a mix of events and topics centred around the theme of multi-scale modelling that makes the course very “dynamic”.

The MMC course is designed for:

• Graduate students (PhD, MSc students and Postdocs) 

• Professors and other academic professionals 

• Professionals from industry 

The course is intended for people working in areas where modelling knowledge of cement-based materials can give you the edge in understanding problems and finding solutions. The course level is suited for PhD and/or Postdoc candidates. No special preliminary or initial training is required for this course, although it is presumed that the participant has basic knowledge of concrete and concrete composition Lecture material consists of a USB-stick containing all PPT slides in PDF format as presented during the course, literature, practical examples, a copy of the basic software that will also be used during the practical sessions.