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Three-dimensional mesoscale modelling of concrete composites by using random walking algorithm

The mechanical performance of concrete is primarily dominated by the characteristics and interrelation of its ingredients, especially the content, shape and grading of coarse aggregates. Consequently, constructing a realistic mesostructure of concrete is essential for adequate mesoscale studies on t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Composites science and technology 2017-09, Vol.149, p.235-245
Main Authors: Zhang, Zihua, Song, Xiaogang, Liu, Yan, Wu, Di, Song, Chongmin
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:The mechanical performance of concrete is primarily dominated by the characteristics and interrelation of its ingredients, especially the content, shape and grading of coarse aggregates. Consequently, constructing a realistic mesostructure of concrete is essential for adequate mesoscale studies on the corresponding mechanical properties. In this study, a novel three-dimensional coarse aggregate generation scheme, namely the random walking algorithm (RWA), is proposed for constructing physically feasible mesostructures of concrete. The proposed approach is able to generate a series of aggregates within an initial placing domain, and subsequently, move them into the target domain by both translation and rotation. Within the proposed analysis framework, the high compactness of mesostructures with an improved aggregate content can be robustly achieved by randomly shifting previously placed aggregates, such that the later generated ones can be ingeniously blended in. Typical samples of random aggregate structure (RAS) are generated under specified grading curves. Parameters relating to aggregate content and efficiency of modelling are critically evaluated. By thoroughly investigating practically motivated examples, it is evidently illustrated that the present method is capable of obtaining a relatively realistic and random distribution of coarse aggregates, and more importantly, the grading of the generated aggregate samples is in compliance with the Fuller's Curve.
ISSN:0266-3538
1879-1050
DOI:10.1016/j.compscitech.2017.06.015