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Nanoparticle simulations of logarithmic creep and microprestress relaxation in concrete and other disordered solids

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Enrico Masoero

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Abstract

© 2020 Elsevier Ltd. Bažant's microprestress theory relates the logarithmic basic creep of concrete to power-law relaxation of heterogeneous eigenstresses at the nanoscale. However, the link between material chemistry, nanostructure, and microprestress relaxation, is not understood. To approach this, we use a simple model of harmonically interacting, packed nanoparticles, relaxing with and without external stress. Microprestresses are related to per-particle virial stress heterogeneities. Simulation results show that logarithmic creep and power-law microprestress relaxation emerge from generic deformation kinetics in disordered systems, which can occur in various materials and at various scales. When the interactions are matched to some mechanical properties of C–S–H at the 100 nm scale, the predicted microprestresses have similar magnitude as in Bažant's theory. The ability of our simulations to quantitatively link stress relaxation with nanostructure and chemistry-dependent interactions, provides a pathway to better characterise, extrapolate, and even engineer the creep behaviour of traditional and new concretes.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Masoero E, Di Luzio G

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Cement and Concrete Research

Year: 2020

Volume: 137

Print publication date: 01/11/2020

Online publication date: 21/08/2020

Acceptance date: 26/07/2020

Date deposited: 03/08/2020

ISSN (print): 0008-8846

Publisher: Elsevier Ltd

URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2020.106181

DOI: 10.1016/j.cemconres.2020.106181

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