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Mesoscale modeling of mechanical deterioration in sulfate-attacked concrete

Mesoscale modeling of mechanical deterioration in sulfate-attacked concrete
Mesoscale modeling of mechanical deterioration in sulfate-attacked concrete

This study presents a mesoscale mechanical deterioration model to investigate the chemo-mechanical degradation of concrete under sulfate attack. The model introduces sulfate-induced volumetric expansion at the microscopic level and incorporates its macroscopic equivalent expansion strain into a mechanical damage framework. A two-dimensional polygonal random aggregate structure is employed to reflect the heterogeneous microstructure of concrete and simulate damage evolution under sulfate attack. Validation against published experimental data demonstrates the model's accuracy in capturing expansion behavior, cracking patterns, and compressive strength degradation under sulfate exposure. Simulations reveal non-uniform damage initiation at aggregate corners and propagation along aggregate–mortar interfaces, ultimately leading to macrocracking and strength loss. A continuous decline in compressive strength with increasing exposure duration confirms the model's predictive capability. The study underscores the critical role of concrete heterogeneity in influencing ion transport, damage localization, and failure mechanisms. By distinguishing between mortar and aggregate phases, the model reflects tortuosity and dilution effects on ion diffusion and reaction product accumulation. This mesoscale framework offers mechanistic insight into the coupled transport–mechanical processes driving sulfate-induced degradation. Despite simplifications such as the exclusion of the interfacial transition zone and post-cracking transport evolution, the model provides a foundation for future refinements and supports the durability assessment of concrete structures in aggressive environments.

Damage evolution, Expansion, Mechanical deterioration model, Sulfate attack
0013-7944
Qin, Shanshan
ab19de81-34db-4086-a5ff-fc082013f6f4
Zhang, Ming
edeebb0b-cfae-4db1-a919-4c4e5fdae724
Zou, Dujian
f932d3d9-b218-4268-a86e-0bb63aec1e31
Liu, Tiejun
07e72a65-be75-4b13-b54d-9ed949c93470
Li, Ye
86d13351-982d-46c3-9347-22794f647f86
Qin, Shanshan
ab19de81-34db-4086-a5ff-fc082013f6f4
Zhang, Ming
edeebb0b-cfae-4db1-a919-4c4e5fdae724
Zou, Dujian
f932d3d9-b218-4268-a86e-0bb63aec1e31
Liu, Tiejun
07e72a65-be75-4b13-b54d-9ed949c93470
Li, Ye
86d13351-982d-46c3-9347-22794f647f86

Qin, Shanshan, Zhang, Ming, Zou, Dujian, Liu, Tiejun and Li, Ye (2025) Mesoscale modeling of mechanical deterioration in sulfate-attacked concrete. Engineering Fracture Mechanics, 323, [111229]. (doi:10.1016/j.engfracmech.2025.111229).

Record type: Article

Abstract

This study presents a mesoscale mechanical deterioration model to investigate the chemo-mechanical degradation of concrete under sulfate attack. The model introduces sulfate-induced volumetric expansion at the microscopic level and incorporates its macroscopic equivalent expansion strain into a mechanical damage framework. A two-dimensional polygonal random aggregate structure is employed to reflect the heterogeneous microstructure of concrete and simulate damage evolution under sulfate attack. Validation against published experimental data demonstrates the model's accuracy in capturing expansion behavior, cracking patterns, and compressive strength degradation under sulfate exposure. Simulations reveal non-uniform damage initiation at aggregate corners and propagation along aggregate–mortar interfaces, ultimately leading to macrocracking and strength loss. A continuous decline in compressive strength with increasing exposure duration confirms the model's predictive capability. The study underscores the critical role of concrete heterogeneity in influencing ion transport, damage localization, and failure mechanisms. By distinguishing between mortar and aggregate phases, the model reflects tortuosity and dilution effects on ion diffusion and reaction product accumulation. This mesoscale framework offers mechanistic insight into the coupled transport–mechanical processes driving sulfate-induced degradation. Despite simplifications such as the exclusion of the interfacial transition zone and post-cracking transport evolution, the model provides a foundation for future refinements and supports the durability assessment of concrete structures in aggressive environments.

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 11 May 2025
e-pub ahead of print date: 12 May 2025
Published date: 26 June 2025
Additional Information: Publisher Copyright: © 2025
Keywords: Damage evolution, Expansion, Mechanical deterioration model, Sulfate attack

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 503640
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/503640
ISSN: 0013-7944
PURE UUID: b9ef782d-ea53-4a04-bbae-751647ffced7

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 07 Aug 2025 16:49
Last modified: 22 Aug 2025 02:47

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Contributors

Author: Shanshan Qin
Author: Ming Zhang
Author: Dujian Zou
Author: Tiejun Liu
Author: Ye Li ORCID iD

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