Meso-scale modelling of compressive fracture in concrete with irregularly shaped aggregates

This paper presents a meso-scale modelling framework to investigate the fracture process in concrete subjected uniaxial and biaxial compression accounting for its mesostructural characteristics. 3D mesostructure of consisting coarse aggregates, mortar interfacial transition zone between them was developed using an in-house code based on Voronoi tessellation splining method, which enables generate realistic-look aggregates with controllable structural features such as content, location, size shape. Based generated mesostructure, damage plasticity approach employed simulate compressive behaviour terms crack morphology stress-strain response against shape parameters aggregate. Results indicate that aggregate has negligible effect strength concrete, is highly associated random location distribution The irregularity significant influence initiation growth concrete.