Experimental and numerical research on triaxial mechanical behavior of self-compacting concrete subjected to freeze-thaw damage

Considering that freeze-thaw (FT) damage has a serious degradation effect on the performance of concrete materials in cold regions and constraint is a common boundary condition for concrete structures, the main mechanical behaviors of self-compacting concrete subjected to 0, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 FT cycles under different confining pressures (0, 2.5, 5 and 10 MPa) are studied through a series of triaxial compression tests. The results show that the macroscopic fracture of concrete under triaxial loads gradually propagates towards the direction of axial compression with the increase of FT cycles, and it changes from one fracture to multiple fractures; the peak deviator stress, elastic modulus, and strain corresponding to peak deviator stress increase with the increase of confining pressure. In addition, with the increase of FT cycles, the FT damage weakens the peak deviator stress and lateral deformation capacity of concrete, resulting in its sensitivity to confining pressure gradually increases, and the cohesion c(n) and internal friction angle phi(n) decrease exponentially. Finally, based on the experimental research, the influence indexes of FT damage are introduced into the mesoscopic parameters, and a discrete element model considering the real aggregate shape is established to predict the triaxial mechanical behavior of self compacting concrete subjected to different FT cycles under different confining pressures. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study found that with an increase in FT cycles, concrete’s macroscopic fracture gradually propagated towards axial compression direction and changed from single to multiple fractures; under different confining pressures, peak deviator stress, elastic modulus, and strain increased. Additionally, FT damage weakened concrete’s deviator stress and lateral deformation capacity, making it more sensitive to confining pressure, while cohesion and internal friction angle decreased exponentially.