A computational linear elastic fracture mechanics-based model for alkali-silica reaction - Nuwcem

Abstract : This article presents a fracture mechanics model for Alkali-Silica Reaction. The model deals with the case of a concrete made up of dense aggregates submitted to chemical attack. The chemistry and diffusion (of ions and gel) are not modelled. The focus is put on the mechanical consequences of the progressive replacement of the outer layer of the aggregate by a less dense gel. A schematic cracking pattern is assumed: a ring-shaped crack appears in the cement paste surrounding the spherical aggregate depending on the pressure build-up. The onset of cracking is determined using an incremental energy criterion. The stored elastic energy and deformation of a given configuration are determined assuming that each aggregate behaves as if it was embedded in an infinite cement paste matrix. The calculations are performed by Finite Element Analysis. We note a very different behaviour of aggregates of different sizes. Adding the contributions of different aggregate sizes leads to an estimation of the global free expansion of a concrete of given aggregate size distribution. A rate of attack is identified that leads to recover the usual sigmoid ASR expansion curve.