Three-dimensional simulations of ageing concrete structures using a multiphase model formulation

The durability of concrete structures is in no small degree determined by the quality and integrity of the concrete, where structural damages such as cracks negatively affect many of the functions of the structure. Often cracks are formed due to restrained thermal and hygral deformations, where the risk is exceptionally high during the early stages after casting. This study presents a hygro-thermo-chemo-mechanical model that accounts for phenomena such as hydration, external and internal drying, self-heating, creep, shrinkage and fracture. The model is derived as a modified version of a fully-coupled multiphase model recently proposed by Gasch et al. (Cem Concrete Res 116:202–216, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2018.09.009) and implemented in the Finite Element Method. Here the governing equations are simplified, and a more efficient solution method is proposed. These modifications are made with the intention to obtain a model more suitable for structural scale simulations. To validate the model, one of the end-restrained beams tested within the French research project CEOS.fr is analyzed. Laboratory data on the concrete is used to calibrate to model and recordings of ambient conditions makes it possible to define accurate boundary conditions. Results from the simulation are compared to measured temperatures and deformations from the first 60 days after casting and are found to generally be in good agreement. Compared to the fully-coupled model by Gasch et al. (2019), the modifications proposed in this study reduce the computational cost by a factor five; without any noticeable differences to the structural results.