Digital Repository, ICF12, Ottawa 2009

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A coupled finite element - discrete element approach for a fine estimation of the crack pattern in concrete subjected to THM loading
A. Delaplace, B. Bary, G. Kwimang

Last modified: 2012-10-17

Abstract


Durability of civil engineering structures under thermo-hydro-mechanical (orTHM) loading is still a high challenge, especially for nuclear installations. ATHM model has been developed for this purpose, allowing reproducing thebehavior of concrete subjected to moderate heating. In a first approach, themechanical parameters, Biot coefficient and permeability evolutions are esti-mated from an isotropic microcracks distribution. Nevertheless, these prop-erties highly depend on the crack pattern. A more reliable description of thelatter can be obtained by using a discrete element model which is pertinentto describe crack pattern. Cracking in the material has multiple influences inthe THM behaviour of the material. We propose in this study to focus onthe impact of the cracking on the permeability. In a first part, the outline ofthe THM model is proposed, with a particular attention to the permeabilityparameters. In a second part, the discrete model used to describe cracking ispresented. Finally, the third part illustrates the proposed procedure to link thecrack pattern computed with discrete model to the macroscopic permeabilityevolution of the THM model.

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