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Modeling and Analysis of Damage and Failure of Concrete-Like, Brittle and Quasi-brittle Materials

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Construction and Building Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2023) | Viewed by 28457

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Dan Huang

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Guest Editor
College of Mechanics and Materials, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China
Interests: computational mechanics; damage and fracture; peridynamics; fluid–structure interaction; multi-scale modeling; multiphysics analysis; concrete materials and structures; functionally graded materials; data-driven analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Lisheng Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Science, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
Interests: computational mechanics; dynamics behavior of materials; peridynamics; fluid–structure interaction algorithm; multi-scale finite element method; extreme mechanical behavior and modeling of materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Zhanqi Cheng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Hydraulic and Civil Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
Interests: computational mechanics; damage and fracture; peridynamics; cement-based composites; multi-scale modeling; micromechanics; functionally graded materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Liwei Wu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Mechanics and Materials, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China
Interests: peridynamics; concrete failure; numerical modeling; dynamic fracture
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Modeling and analysis of damage and failure of materials and structures is an active and persistent challenge in computational mechanics, materials, and various scientific and industrial fields. This Special Issue provides an informative and stimulating forum to enhance academic communications on this challenging topic, focusing on the development and applications of computational theories, numerical and experimental methods, models, and algorithms for modeling and analyzing damage and failure of concrete-like, brittle, and quasi-brittle materials and structures.

Potential topics include—but are not limited to—failure mechanisms and experimental and numerical analyses of concrete-like, brittle, and quasi-brittle materials and structures; multi-scale models and methods for deformation and failure analysis; fluid–structure interaction; concrete corrosion; durability of concrete-like materials and structures; thermomechanical coupling and other multi-physics fracture modeling; dynamic fracture studies; numerical methods and approaches for damage and failure modeling; and data-driven computational mechanics and modeling.

Prof. Dr. Dan Huang
Prof. Dr. Lisheng Liu
Prof. Dr. Zhanqi Cheng
Dr. Liwei Wu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • concrete-like materials and structures
  • quasi-brittle materials
  • damage and failure
  • dynamic behavior
  • experimental analysis
  • numerical methods
  • multi-scale modeling
  • multi-physics modeling
  • corrosion
  • durability

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (17 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 5814 KiB  
Article
Performance of Eco-Friendly Cement Mortars Incorporating Ceramic Molds Shells and Paraffin Wax
by Sandra Cunha, Raphael Silva, José Aguiar and Fernando Castro
Materials 2023, 16(17), 5764; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16175764 - 23 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1053
Abstract
The lost wax foundry industry has been rapidly expanding in recent years, generating a large amount of waste due to the fact that most of the durable goods include castings and the need for dimensional precision castings for specific purposes, such as the [...] Read more.
The lost wax foundry industry has been rapidly expanding in recent years, generating a large amount of waste due to the fact that most of the durable goods include castings and the need for dimensional precision castings for specific purposes, such as the automotive and aeronautics sectors. The waste produced by this industry is currently being deposited in landfills because practical applications are not known and cannot be reused in a new production process, and recycling is also a challenge because of the economics of the process. Thus, the main objective of this study consists in the incorporation of the produced wastes by the lost wax casting foundry industry (ceramic molds shells and paraffin wax) as substitutes for natural aggregate in exterior coatings mortars, evaluating their behavior under normal operating conditions and against freeze–thaw actions. The obtained results revealed porosity, flexural strength, and compressive strength adequate under normal operating conditions. The freeze–thaw performance of the mortars with waste incorporation was similar to the mortars developed with natural aggregates. Thus, the potential of the ceramic mold shells and paraffinic waxes utilization in cementitious mortars for the construction sector was demonstrated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling and Analysis of Damage and Failure of Concrete-Like, Brittle and Quasi-brittle Materials)
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24 pages, 9623 KiB  
Article
Rapid-Hardening and High-Strength Steel-Fiber-Reinforced Concrete: Effects of Curing Ages and Strain Rates on Compressive Performance
by Fan Mo, Boxiang Li, Mingyi Li, Zhuangcheng Fang, Shu Fang and Haibo Jiang
Materials 2023, 16(14), 4947; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16144947 - 11 Jul 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1435
Abstract
High-strength steel-fiber-reinforced concrete (HSFRC) has become increasingly popular as a cast-in-place jointing material in precast concrete bridges and buildings due to its excellent tensile strength and crack resistance. However, working conditions such as emergency repairs and low-temperature constructions require higher demands on the [...] Read more.
High-strength steel-fiber-reinforced concrete (HSFRC) has become increasingly popular as a cast-in-place jointing material in precast concrete bridges and buildings due to its excellent tensile strength and crack resistance. However, working conditions such as emergency repairs and low-temperature constructions require higher demands on the workability and mechanical properties of HSFRC. To this end, a novel rapid-hardening HSFRC has been proposed, which is produced using sulphoaluminate cement (SC) instead of ordinary Portland cement. In this study, quasi-static and dynamic tests were carried out to compare the compressive behavior of conventional and rapid-hardening HSFRCs. The key test variables included SC replacement ratios, concrete curing ages, and strain rates. Test results showed: (1) Rapid-hardening HSFRC exhibited high early strengths of up to 33.14 and 44.9 MPa at the curing age of 4 h, respectively, but its compressive strength and elastic modulus were generally inferior to those of conventional HSFRC. (2) The strain rate sensitivity of rapid-hardening HSFRC was more significant compared to its conventional counterpart and increased with increasing curing ages and strain rates. This study highlights the great potential of rapid-hardening HSFRC in rapid bridge construction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling and Analysis of Damage and Failure of Concrete-Like, Brittle and Quasi-brittle Materials)
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23 pages, 16527 KiB  
Article
Modeling and Simulation of the Hysteretic Behavior of Concrete under Cyclic Tension–Compression Using the Smeared Crack Approach
by Pei Zhang, Shenshen Wang and Luying He
Materials 2023, 16(12), 4442; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16124442 - 17 Jun 2023
Viewed by 1380
Abstract
Concrete structures under wind and earthquake loads will experience tensile and compressive stress reversals. It is very important to accurately reproduce the hysteretic behavior and energy dissipation of concrete materials under cyclic tension–compression for the safety evaluation of concrete structures. A hysteretic model [...] Read more.
Concrete structures under wind and earthquake loads will experience tensile and compressive stress reversals. It is very important to accurately reproduce the hysteretic behavior and energy dissipation of concrete materials under cyclic tension–compression for the safety evaluation of concrete structures. A hysteretic model for concrete under cyclic tension–compression is proposed in the framework of smeared crack theory. Based on the crack surface opening–closing mechanism, the relationship between crack surface stress and cracking strain is constructed in a local coordinate system. Linear loading–unloading paths are used and the partial unloading–reloading condition is considered. The hysteretic curves in the model are controlled by two parameters: the initial closing stress and the complete closing stress, which can be determined by the test results. Comparison with several experimental results shows that the model is capable of simulating the cracking process and hysteretic behavior of concrete. In addition, the model is proven to be able to reproduce the damage evolution, energy dissipation, and stiffness recovery caused by crack closure during the cyclic tension–compression. The proposed model can be applied to the nonlinear analysis of real concrete structures under complex cyclic loads. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling and Analysis of Damage and Failure of Concrete-Like, Brittle and Quasi-brittle Materials)
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30 pages, 12404 KiB  
Article
A Modified Bond-Associated Non-Ordinary State-Based Peridynamic Model for Impact Problems of Quasi-Brittle Materials
by Jing Zhang, Yaxun Liu, Xin Lai, Lisheng Liu, Hai Mei and Xiang Liu
Materials 2023, 16(11), 4050; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16114050 - 29 May 2023
Viewed by 1559
Abstract
In this work, we have developed a novel bond-associated non-ordinary state-based peridynamic (BA-NOSB PD) model for the numerical modeling and prediction of the impact response and fracture damage of quasi-brittle materials. First, the improved Johnson-Holmquist (JH2) constitutive relationship is implemented in the framework [...] Read more.
In this work, we have developed a novel bond-associated non-ordinary state-based peridynamic (BA-NOSB PD) model for the numerical modeling and prediction of the impact response and fracture damage of quasi-brittle materials. First, the improved Johnson-Holmquist (JH2) constitutive relationship is implemented in the framework of BA-NOSB PD theory to describe the nonlinear material response, which also helps to eliminate the zero-energy mode. Afterwards, the volumetric strain in the equation of state is redefined by the introduction of the bond-associated deformation gradient, which can effectively improve the stability and accuracy of the material model. Then, a new general bond-breaking criterion is proposed in the BA-NOSB PD model, which is capable of covering various failure modes of quasi-brittle materials, including the tensile-shear failure that is not commonly considered in the literature. Subsequently, a practical bond-breaking strategy and its computational implementation are presented and discussed by means of energy convergence. Finally, the proposed model is verified by two benchmark numerical examples and demonstrated by the numerical simulation of edge-on impact and normal impact experiments on ceramics. The comparison between our results and references shows good capability and stability for impact problems of quasi-brittle materials. Numerical oscillations and unphysical deformation modes are effectively eliminated, showing strong robustness and bright prospects for relevant applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling and Analysis of Damage and Failure of Concrete-Like, Brittle and Quasi-brittle Materials)
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15 pages, 6994 KiB  
Article
Numerical Simulation of Failure Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Shear Walls by a Micropolar Peridynamic Model
by Feng Shen, Zihan Chen, Jia Zheng and Qing Zhang
Materials 2023, 16(8), 3199; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16083199 - 18 Apr 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1263
Abstract
A reinforced concrete shear wall is an important building structure. Once damage occurs, it not only causes great losses to various properties but also seriously endangers people’s lives. It is difficult to achieve an accurate description of the damage process using the traditional [...] Read more.
A reinforced concrete shear wall is an important building structure. Once damage occurs, it not only causes great losses to various properties but also seriously endangers people’s lives. It is difficult to achieve an accurate description of the damage process using the traditional numerical calculation method, which is based on the continuous medium theory. Its bottleneck lies in the crack-induced discontinuity, whereas the adopted numerical analysis method has the continuity requirement. The peridynamic theory can solve discontinuity problems and analyze material damage processes during crack expansion. In this paper, the quasi-static failure and impact failure of shear walls are simulated by improved micropolar peridynamics, which provides the whole process of microdefect growth, damage accumulation, crack initiation, and propagation. The peridynamic predictions are in good match with the current experiment observations, filling the gap of shear wall failure behavior in existing research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling and Analysis of Damage and Failure of Concrete-Like, Brittle and Quasi-brittle Materials)
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20 pages, 10256 KiB  
Article
Traction-Associated Peridynamic Motion Equation and Its Verification in the Plane Stress and Fracture Problems
by Ming Yu, Zeyuan Zhou and Zaixing Huang
Materials 2023, 16(6), 2252; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16062252 - 10 Mar 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1411
Abstract
How to prescribe traction on boundary surface is still an open question in peridynamics. This problem is investigated in this paper. Through introducing the induced body force defined by boundary traction, the Silling’s peridynamic motion equation is extended to a new formulation called [...] Read more.
How to prescribe traction on boundary surface is still an open question in peridynamics. This problem is investigated in this paper. Through introducing the induced body force defined by boundary traction, the Silling’s peridynamic motion equation is extended to a new formulation called the traction-associated peridynamic motion equation, which is verified to be compatible with the conservation laws of linear momentum and angular momentum. The energy conservation equation derived from the traction-associated peridynamic motion equation has the same form as that in the original peridynamics advanced by Silling. Therefore, the constitutive models of the original peridynamics can be directly applied to the traction-associated peridynamic motion equation. Some benchmark examples in the plane stress problems are calculated. The numerical solutions agree well with the classical elasticity solutions, and the volume correction and the surface correction are no longer needed in the numerical algorithm. These results show that the traction-associated peridynamic motion equation not only retains all advantages of the original peridynamics, but also can conveniently deal with the complex traction boundary conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling and Analysis of Damage and Failure of Concrete-Like, Brittle and Quasi-brittle Materials)
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18 pages, 12827 KiB  
Article
Thermal Regulation Performance of Shape-Stabilized-Phase-Change-Material-Based Prefabricated Wall for Green Grain Storage
by Changnv Zeng, Chaoxin Hu and Wanwan Li
Materials 2023, 16(3), 964; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16030964 - 20 Jan 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1600
Abstract
In order to meet the great demand for green grain storage and low carbon emissions, paraffin, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and expanded graphite (EG) were used to produce shape-stabilized phase change material (SSPCM) plates, which were then used to reconstruct building walls for existing [...] Read more.
In order to meet the great demand for green grain storage and low carbon emissions, paraffin, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and expanded graphite (EG) were used to produce shape-stabilized phase change material (SSPCM) plates, which were then used to reconstruct building walls for existing granaries. A new type of SSPCM plate was then prefabricated with different thermal conductivities and a high latent heat. This plate could be directly adhered to the existing granary walls. In order to evaluate the thermal regulation performance of these phase change granary walls, experiments and numerical methods were established, specifically for the summer condition. The thermal behavior of the SSPCM granary wall was compared with that of the common concrete granary wall to obtain the optimal parameters. It was concluded that increasing the thickness of the SSPCM layer can reduce the temperature rise of the wall. However, the maximum latent heat utilization rate and energy storage effects were obtained when the SSPCM thickness was at an intermediate level of 30 mm. The thermal conductivity of the SSPCM had a controversial effect on the thermal resistance and latent heat utilization behaviors of the SSPCM. Considering the temperature level and energy saving rate, a 30 mm thick SSPCM plate with a thermal conductivity of 0.2 W/m·K provided a superior performance. When compared to the common wall, the optimized energy-saving rate was greatly enhanced by 35.83% for the SSPCM granary wall with a thickness of 30 mm and a thermal conductivity of 0.2 W/m·K. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling and Analysis of Damage and Failure of Concrete-Like, Brittle and Quasi-brittle Materials)
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15 pages, 2614 KiB  
Article
Investigation of the Fracture Characteristics of a Cement Mortar Slab under Impact Loading Based on the CDEM
by Qunlei Zhang, Decai Wang, Jinchao Yue, Chun Feng and Ruifu Yuan
Materials 2023, 16(1), 207; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16010207 - 26 Dec 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1708
Abstract
For brittle and quasi-brittle materials such as rock and concrete, the impact-resistance characteristics of the corresponding engineering structures are key to successful application under complex service environments. Modeling of concrete-like slab fractures under impact loading is helpful to analyze the failure mechanism of [...] Read more.
For brittle and quasi-brittle materials such as rock and concrete, the impact-resistance characteristics of the corresponding engineering structures are key to successful application under complex service environments. Modeling of concrete-like slab fractures under impact loading is helpful to analyze the failure mechanism of an engineering structure. In this paper, simulation models of impact tests of a cement mortar slab were developed, and a continuum–discontinuum element method (CDEM) was used for dynamic analysis. Concretely, the cracking simulations of a mortar slab when considering the hammer shape and impact velocity were conducted, and the impact process and failure results of the slab structure were analyzed. The results showed that the top fracture area of the mortar slab was significantly smaller than that of slab bottom under impact loadings of the drop hammer. The impact velocity was an important factor that affected the mortar slab’s cracking. With the increase in the initial impact velocity, the effective fracture area of the slab structure increased significantly; the impact force and rupture degree of the mortar slab also showed a linear growth trend. The shapes of the impact hammerhead also had a significant effect on the crack model of the mortar slab. The effective fracture zones of slab structures were close under circular and square hammers, while the effective fracture zone was significantly larger under a rectangular hammer impact. The peak value (45.5 KN) of the impact force under a circular hammer was significantly smaller than the peak value (48.7 KN) of the impact force under the rectangular hammer. When considering the influence of the stress concentration of the impact hammerhead, the maximum impact stress of the rectangular hammer was 147.3 MPa, which was significantly greater than that of the circular hammer impact (maximum stress of 87.5 MPa). This may have meant that the slab structures were prone to a directional rupture that mainly propagated along the long axis of the rectangular hammerhead. This impact mode is therefore more suitable for rehabilitation and reconstruction projects of slab structures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling and Analysis of Damage and Failure of Concrete-Like, Brittle and Quasi-brittle Materials)
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16 pages, 7783 KiB  
Article
The Typical Damage Form and Mechanism of a Railway Prestressed Concrete Sleeper
by Ruilin You, Jijun Wang, Na Ning, Meng Wang and Jiashuo Zhang
Materials 2022, 15(22), 8074; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15228074 - 15 Nov 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2296
Abstract
Prestressed concrete sleepers are an important track component that is widely used in railway ballast track. Prestressed concrete sleepers have high strength, strong stability, and good durability; thus, their operation and use in railways are beneficial. However, in different countries and regions, certain [...] Read more.
Prestressed concrete sleepers are an important track component that is widely used in railway ballast track. Prestressed concrete sleepers have high strength, strong stability, and good durability; thus, their operation and use in railways are beneficial. However, in different countries and regions, certain damage to sleepers typically appears. Existing research on concrete sleepers focuses primarily on the structural design method, the application of new materials, theoretical analysis, and bearing strength test research, while ignoring sleeper damage. There are a few sleeper damage studies, but they look at only one type of damage; thus, there is no comprehensive study of prestressed concrete sleeper damage. The damage forms of prestressed concrete sleeper damage are thus summarized in this study, and the theory of the causes of prestressed concrete sleepers is analyzed based on the limit state method for the first time. The findings indicate that sleeper structure design is the primary cause of its operation and use status, and that special measures should be considered based on sleeper use conditions. In addition to meeting design requirements, materials, curing systems, product inspection, and other factors must be considered during manufacturing to improve the sleepers’ long-term performance. Keeping the track in good condition, including but not limited to the state of fasteners, ballast bed, and track geometry is also an important aspect of preventing sleeper damage. The outcomes of this study provide better insights into the influences of damage to railway prestressed concrete sleepers and can be used to improve track maintenance and inspection criteria. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling and Analysis of Damage and Failure of Concrete-Like, Brittle and Quasi-brittle Materials)
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20 pages, 8405 KiB  
Article
Thermo-Mechanical Coupling Model of Bond-Based Peridynamics for Quasi-Brittle Materials
by Haoran Zhang, Lisheng Liu, Xin Lai, Hai Mei and Xiang Liu
Materials 2022, 15(20), 7401; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15207401 - 21 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1669
Abstract
The mechanical properties of quasi-brittle materials, which are widely used in engineering applications, are often affected by the thermal condition of their service environment. Moreover, the materials appear brittle when subjected to tensile loading and show plastic characteristics under high pressure. These two [...] Read more.
The mechanical properties of quasi-brittle materials, which are widely used in engineering applications, are often affected by the thermal condition of their service environment. Moreover, the materials appear brittle when subjected to tensile loading and show plastic characteristics under high pressure. These two phenomena manifest under different circumstances as completely different mechanical behaviors in the material. To accurately describe the mechanical response, the material behavior, and the failure mechanism of quasi-brittle materials with the thermo-mechanical coupling effect, the influence of the thermal condition is considered in calculating bond forces in the stretching and compression stages, based on a new bond-based Peridynamic (BB-PD) model. In this study, a novel bond-based Peridynamic, fully coupled, thermo-mechanical model is proposed for quasi-brittle materials, with a heat conduction component to account for the effect of the thermo-mechanical coupling. Numerical simulations are carried out to demonstrate the validity and capability of the proposed model. The results reveal that agreement could be found between our model and the experimental data, which show good reliability and promise in the proposed approach. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling and Analysis of Damage and Failure of Concrete-Like, Brittle and Quasi-brittle Materials)
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15 pages, 5507 KiB  
Article
Identification of Relatively Weak Areas of Planar Structures Based on Modal Strain Energy Decomposition Method
by Dongwei Wang, Kaixuan Liang and Panxu Sun
Materials 2022, 15(18), 6391; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15186391 - 14 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1156
Abstract
Identifying relatively weak areas is of great significance for improving the seismic reliability of structures. In this paper, a modal strain energy decomposition method is proposed, which can realize the decoupling of the comprehensive modal strain energy of a planar structure into three [...] Read more.
Identifying relatively weak areas is of great significance for improving the seismic reliability of structures. In this paper, a modal strain energy decomposition method is proposed, which can realize the decoupling of the comprehensive modal strain energy of a planar structure into three basic modal strain energies. According to the decomposition results, the modal strain energy decomposition diagram and the modal strain energy cloud diagram can be drawn so as to realize the quantitative and visual analysis of the vibration modes. The method is independent of load cases and can identify relatively weak areas of a structure from the perspective of inherent characteristics. The comparison with the shaking table test results of the two-story shear wall shows that the modal strain energy decomposition method can effectively identify the type of the relatively weak area of a structure and locate the position of the relatively weak area. Finally, the 6-story shear wall is analyzed by the modal strain energy decomposition method, and the relatively weak areas under the first two vibration modes are identified. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling and Analysis of Damage and Failure of Concrete-Like, Brittle and Quasi-brittle Materials)
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17 pages, 6229 KiB  
Article
Numerical Investigation of Prefabricated Utility Tunnels Composed of Composite Slabs with Spiral Stirrup-Constrained Connection Based on Damage Mechanics
by Qinghua Wang, Guobin Gong, Jianli Hao and Yuanfeng Bao
Materials 2022, 15(18), 6320; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15186320 - 12 Sep 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1574
Abstract
This paper investigates prefabricated utility tunnels composed of composite slabs with a spiral stirrup-constrained connection, considering material nonlinearity with concrete damage. An experiment was set up based on the prototype of a practical utility tunnel project, and the results were compared with finite [...] Read more.
This paper investigates prefabricated utility tunnels composed of composite slabs with a spiral stirrup-constrained connection, considering material nonlinearity with concrete damage. An experiment was set up based on the prototype of a practical utility tunnel project, and the results were compared with finite element (FEM) simulation results with reasonable agreement obtained. The parametric analysis was carried out considering variations of seam location, haunch height and reinforcement, and embedment depth, using FEM simulations. It is found that, as with the increase in seam distance above haunch, the load capacity increases slightly, while the ductility does not vary much. The haunch height is not found to have an apparent effect on stiffness, load capacity or ductility. The increase in the embedment depth can enhance both the yield and peak loads while decreasing the ductility. A simplified method is proposed for evaluating the seismic performance in terms of deformation coefficient considering ductility demand, based on three different methods for calculating interaction coefficients considering soil–structure interactions. The findings from this investigation provide theoretical and practical guidance for underground engineering design of prefabricated utility tunnels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling and Analysis of Damage and Failure of Concrete-Like, Brittle and Quasi-brittle Materials)
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15 pages, 5298 KiB  
Article
Influence and Mechanism of Curing Methods on Mechanical Properties of Manufactured Sand UHPC
by Chengfang Yuan, Shiwen Xu, Ali Raza, Chao Wang and Di Wang
Materials 2022, 15(18), 6183; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15186183 - 6 Sep 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 1976
Abstract
The mechanical properties of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) made of manufactured sand (MS) under four curing methods (steam, standard, sprinkler and saturated Ca(OH)2) were investigated via compressive, flexural and uniaxial tensile tests, and the bond strength of steel fiber and manufactured [...] Read more.
The mechanical properties of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) made of manufactured sand (MS) under four curing methods (steam, standard, sprinkler and saturated Ca(OH)2) were investigated via compressive, flexural and uniaxial tensile tests, and the bond strength of steel fiber and manufactured sand UHPC (MSUHPC) matrix. Based on the analysis of the microstructure, the influence mechanism of curing methods on the mechanical properties of materials was explored. The results showed that the early compressive strength of MSUHPC under steam curing (SM) is much higher than that of the other three curing methods, but the difference gradually decreases with the increase of age. The compressive strength of MSUHPC under SM is higher than that of river sand UHPC (RSUHPC). The bending strength and compressive strength of MSUHPC under different curing methods are similar, and the bending strength of 28 days steam cured samples is the highest. The uniaxial tensile properties of MSUHPC did not show significant difference under standard curing (SD), sprinkler curing (SP) and saturated Ca(OH)2 curing (CH), and the uniaxial tensile properties of MSUHPC under SM are slightly better than RSUHPC. The ultimate bond strength and fiber pullout energy of steel fiber and MSUHPC increase with the development of age. The bond strength and fiber pullout work of SM is higher than those of the other three curing methods, but there are lower increases in the later stage than that of the other three curing methods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling and Analysis of Damage and Failure of Concrete-Like, Brittle and Quasi-brittle Materials)
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20 pages, 8646 KiB  
Article
A Promising Mortar Produced with Seawater and Sea Sand
by Zhigang Sheng, Yajun Wang and Dan Huang
Materials 2022, 15(17), 6123; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15176123 - 3 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1676
Abstract
The aim of the study is the deep understanding of the essential reactivity of the environmentally friendly mortar by which its applicability can be justified. Created in the study was the environmentally friendly mortar, which helped relieve the increasing requirements on conventional building [...] Read more.
The aim of the study is the deep understanding of the essential reactivity of the environmentally friendly mortar by which its applicability can be justified. Created in the study was the environmentally friendly mortar, which helped relieve the increasing requirements on conventional building materials that are produced from exhausted freshwater and river sand nowadays. Seawater (SW) and sea sand (SS) collected from the Eastern Seas of China were used to produce the mortar at various ages, including 10-day, 33-day, and 91-day. Both the curing and working conditions of the mortar were natural marine ones. The physicochemical-mechanical behaviors were investigated using uniaxial compression tests (UCTs), Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and thermal-field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis to understand the essential reactivity of the mortar with age accumulation. The results indicated that hydration products and favorable components were generated promisingly in the mortar: the C-S-H (xCaO·SiO2·zH2O) development was certainly achieved in the critical environment during the curing and working period; the extensive generation of C-A-S-H (CaO·Al2O3·2SiO2·4H2O) helped densify the C-S-H grid, which caused the promising development of the uniaxial compression strength (UCS); the framework porosity of the mortar was restrained effectively due to the development of Friedel’s salt that re-bonded the interfacial cracks between SS and the hydration products with the age accumulation in the critical environment. Consequently, UCS and the resistance against damage of the mortar showed increasing behavior even in the critical environment. The study established Friedel’s salt working models and strength and damage models to interpret the physicochemical reactivity of the mortar as: the source of the strength and toughness was the proper polymerization between the native saline components and the hydration product mixture generated throughout the production, curing, and application without the leaching phenomenon. The novel models and interpretation of the physicochemical reactivity ensured the applicability of the mortar produced with SW and SS in the critical environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling and Analysis of Damage and Failure of Concrete-Like, Brittle and Quasi-brittle Materials)
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18 pages, 2587 KiB  
Article
An Experimental and Analytical Study on a Damage Constitutive Model of Engineered Cementitious Composites under Uniaxial Tension
by Dapeng Zhao, Changjun Wang, Ke Li, Pengbo Zhang, Lianyou Cong and Dazhi Chen
Materials 2022, 15(17), 6063; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15176063 - 1 Sep 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1645
Abstract
Engineered cementitious composites (ECC) exhibit ultra-high ductility and post-cracking resistance, which makes it an attractive material in civil engineering. First, a monotonic uniaxial tensile test was performed, considering the effects of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber volume content and water-binder ratio. Then, the effects [...] Read more.
Engineered cementitious composites (ECC) exhibit ultra-high ductility and post-cracking resistance, which makes it an attractive material in civil engineering. First, a monotonic uniaxial tensile test was performed, considering the effects of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber volume content and water-binder ratio. Then, the effects of the above variables on the tensile characteristics including the tensile stress–strain relationship, deformation capacity, and fracture energy were investigated based on test results; and when the water-binder ratio is 0.28 and the fiber volume content is 2%, the deformation performance of ECC is improved most significantly. Next, combined with damage mechanics theory, the damage evolution mechanism of ECC in monotonic uniaxial tension was revealed, based on which the damage factor and damage evolution equation of ECC were developed and the expressions of model parameters were proposed. Moreover, the comparison between the proposed model and test results demonstrated the accuracy of the proposed model. Finally, to further verify the feasibility of the proposed model, a finite element (FE) simulation analysis of the tensile performance of high-strength stainless steel wire rope (HSSWR) reinforced ECC by adopting the proposed model was compared with test results and the simulation analysis results by using anther existing model, the “trilinear model of ECC”. The comparison shows that the proposed model in this paper can predict more accurately. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling and Analysis of Damage and Failure of Concrete-Like, Brittle and Quasi-brittle Materials)
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14 pages, 2968 KiB  
Article
Design of Environmentally Friendly Ca-Alginate Beads for Self-Healing Cement-Based Materials
by Xiaohang Zhang and Yonggang Ding
Materials 2022, 15(17), 5844; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15175844 - 24 Aug 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1657
Abstract
Ca-alginate beads have strong hygroscopicity, which have been used for the self-healing and internal curing of cement-based materials. However, ca-alginate beads in cement will chelate with calcium ions, which decreases the swelling rate of ca-alginate beads in the healing environment and is detrimental [...] Read more.
Ca-alginate beads have strong hygroscopicity, which have been used for the self-healing and internal curing of cement-based materials. However, ca-alginate beads in cement will chelate with calcium ions, which decreases the swelling rate of ca-alginate beads in the healing environment and is detrimental to the self-healing of cement-based materials. In this paper, the mechanism and steps for preparing ca-alginate beads with a lower ability to chelate with calcium ions were proposed based on protonation theory. In addition, the molecular structure and the swelling rates in cement filtrate and healing environment of ca-alginate beads prepared by the proposed method were characterized. The results showed that the ca-alginate beads prepared by the proposed method had higher molecular density and a lower ability to chelate with calcium ions. The swelling rate in the healing environment is not decreased. Furthermore, the equilibrium swelling rate in cement filtrate can satisfy the need for internal curing of cement-based materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling and Analysis of Damage and Failure of Concrete-Like, Brittle and Quasi-brittle Materials)
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19 pages, 4089 KiB  
Article
Analytical and Numerical Modeling of the Pullout Behavior between High-Strength Stainless Steel Wire Mesh and ECC
by Xuyan Zou, Yawen Liu, Juntao Zhu, Ke Li and Jinglong Cao
Materials 2022, 15(16), 5649; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15165649 - 17 Aug 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1789
Abstract
Bond behavior is a key factor in the engineering application of composite material. This study focuses on the constitutive model of the bond behavior between high-strength stainless steel strand mesh and Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC). In this paper, the effects of strand diameter, [...] Read more.
Bond behavior is a key factor in the engineering application of composite material. This study focuses on the constitutive model of the bond behavior between high-strength stainless steel strand mesh and Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC). In this paper, the effects of strand diameter, bond length and transverse steel strand spacing on bond behavior were studied based on 51 direct pullout tests. Experimental results showed that the high-strength stainless steel strand mesh provided specimens an excellent ductility. Based on the experimental data, the existing bond–slip model was revised using the theory of damage mechanics, which fully considered the influence of the steel strand diameter on the initial tangent stiffness of the bond–slip curve. The results of the model verification analysis show that errors are within 10% for most parameters of the bond–slip model proposed, especially in the ascending section, the errors are within 5%, indicating that the calculated results using the revised model are in good agreement with the test results. In addition, the revised model was applied to the finite element analysis by using the software ABAQUS to simulate the pullout test, in which the spring-2 nonlinear spring element was used to stimulate the bond behavior between steel strand meshes and ECC. The simulation results show that the numerical analysis fits the experimental result well, which further verifies the accuracy of the model and the feasibility and applicability of the numerical analysis method. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling and Analysis of Damage and Failure of Concrete-Like, Brittle and Quasi-brittle Materials)
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