Multiscale Mechanics of Infrastructure Materials

Deterioration induced by Alkali–Silica Reaction (ASR) is reported in many concrete structures all around the world, especially those built in high humidity and warm environments, like dams and offshore structures. The main effect of ASR is a progressive deterioration of concrete stiffness and strength that results from the long-term formation and expansion of ASR gel inducing expansive pressure on the internal structure of concrete. This pressure causes nonuniform deformations that eventually lead to cracking and damage. While the chemical description of the reaction was addressed intensively in the literature, the fracture mechanics associated with the progressive expansion has received little attention due to the lack of models describing concrete internal structure satisfactorily. We work on to fill that gap and to build a comprehensive computational model, considering not only the evolution of temperature, humidity, cement hydration, and ASR in both space and time, but also the physics-based formulations of cracking, creep and shrinkage.