THE IMPORTANCE OF MULTIPHYSICS AND MULTISCALE MODELLING OF CONCRETE TO UNDERSTAND ITS COMPLEX MACROSCOPIC PROPERTIES

Author(s):Jörg F. Unger, Vitaliy Kindrachuk, Volker Hirthammer, Thomas Titscher,
Christoph Pohl
Paper category: Proceedings
Book title: proceedings of the International RILEM Conference on Materials, Systems and Structures in Civil Engineering Conference segment on Service Life of Cement-Based Materials and Structures
Editor(s): Miguel Azenha, Ivan Gabrijel, Dirk Schlicke, Terje Kanstad and Ole Mejlhede Jensen
ISBN:978-2-35158-170-4
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-173-5
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2016
Pages: 132-141
Total Pages: 10
Language : English

Abstract: Concrete is a complex material. Its properties evolve over time, especially at early age, and
are dependent on environmental conditions, i.e. temperature and moisture conditions, as well
as the composition of the material. This leads to a variety of macroscopic phenomena such as
hydration/solidification/hardening, creep and shrinkage, thermal strains, damage and inelastic
deformations. Most of these phenomena are characterized by specific set of model
assumptions and often an additive decomposition of strains into elastic, plastic, shrinkage and
creep components is performed. Each of these phenomena are investigated separately and a
number of respective independent models have been designed. The interactions are then
accounted for by adding appropriate correction factors or additional models for the particular
interaction. This paper discusses the importance of reconsider even in the experimental phase
the model assumptions required to generalize the experimental data into models used in
design codes. It is especially underlined that the complex macroscopic behaviour of concrete
is strongly influenced by its multiscale and multiphyscis nature and two examples (shrinkage
and fatigue) of interacting phenomena are discussed.

Online publication : 2016
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros) : 0.00