A strategy for concrete cracking simulation using high aspect ratio interface damage elements and rule-of-mixture-based equivalent properties

Capturing the influence of concrete mesostructure at the macroscale remains a significant challenge in computational modeling. This paper presents a novel methodology for simulating concrete cracking at the macroscale while considering mesoscale characteristics and overcoming the difficulties of generating computational specimens. To this end, a tensile damage model incorporating high aspect ratio interface elements via mesh fragmentation is employed to capture nonlinear behavior. The Rule of Mixture is utilized to derive effective properties. A notched square plate under uniaxial tensile loading is simulated, and the average result from five mesoscale realizations is compared with a single macroscale result, considering varying aggregate fractions and shapes. A three-point bending test and an L-shaped panel test are also performed to verify the effectiveness of the strategy under different fracture modes, and the results are compared with experimental and computational references. The findings demonstrate the efficacy of the approach in capturing mesoscale characteristics through macroscale analysis, encouraging further application to more complex analyses, such as thermomechanical or three-dimensional problems, which involve more computationally demanding aggregate arrangements in the mortar matrix.