This paper deals with the accurate modelling of ultrasonic wave propagation in concrete at the mesoscopic level. This was achieved through the development of a discrete element method (DEM) model capable of simulating elastic wave signals comparable to those measured experimentally. The main objective of the work was to propose a novel methodology for constructing a meso-scale model of concrete dedicated to the analysis of elastic...

Artykuł omawia obliczanie lokalizacji odkształceń w elementach betonowych poddanych rozciąganiu. Obliczenia wykonano dla betonu na poziomie mezo. Obliczenia wykonano przy zastosowaniu modelu zniszczeniowego z degradacją sztywności rozszerzonego o nielokalność.

Fracture is a major reason of the global failure of concretes. The understanding of fracture is important to ensure the safety of structures and to optimize the material behaviour. In particular an early prediction possibility of fracture in concretes is of major importance. In this paper, concrete fracture under bending was numerically analysed using the Discrete Element Method (DEM). The real mesoscopic structure of a concrete...

The paper describes numerical meso-scale results of a size effect on strength, brittleness and fracture in brittle materials like concrete. The discrete element method (DEM) was used to simulate the size effect during quasi-static splitting tension with the experimental-based meso-structure. The two-dimensional (2D) calculations were carried out on concrete cylindrical specimens with two diameters wherein two different failure...

The paper deals with two-dimensional (2D) numerical modelling of hydro-fracking (hydraulic fracturing) in rocks at the meso-scale. A numerical model was developed to characterize the properties of fluid-driven fractures in rocks by combining the discrete element method (DEM) with computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The mechanical behaviour of the rock matrix was simulated with DEM and the behaviour of the fracturing fluid flow...