Multi-scale lattice method for mesoscopic crack growth simulation of concrete structures

In order to study mesoscopic fracture mechanisms with lower computational cost, a multi-scale beam lattice method is developed to simulate the fracture process of concrete structures starting from meso-scale. In the multi-scale model, more real material meso-structural morphology can be considered in meso-scale region, where mesoscopic crack growth simulation is implemented. In macro-scale region, material is considered to be homogeneous for reducing computational cost. A crack growth simulation procedure is coupled in the multi scale beam lattice method for considering stress redistribution due to one local crack initiation and growth. In order to consider the effectiveness and computational efficiency of the multi-scale modeling method, mesoscopic crack growth of a notched three-point bend concrete beam are respectively simulated by using multi-scale, pure meso-scale and macro-scale models. The simulation results are compared with experimental results, which show that the developed multi-scale beam lattice modeling method is effective and can be used to predict mesoscopic crack growth paths of concrete structures with lower computational cost.