Numerical Simulation of Rubber Concrete Considering Fatigue Damage Accumulation of Cohesive Zone Model

Rubber concrete (RC) has been used in fatigue-resistant components due to its durability, yet the numerical simulation of its fatigue properties remains in its early stages. This study proposes a cohesive zone model (CZM) that accounts for the accumulation of fatigue damage at the mesoscale to investigate the fatigue performance of RC. The model integrates static and fatigue damage in the CZM, effectively capturing damage caused by fatigue loading. Validation was conducted using experimental data from the existing literature. Based on this validation, four concrete beams with varying rubber replacement rates (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%) were tested. The CZM was employed to describe the mechanical behavior of the interface transition zones (ITZs) and the mortar interior, which were simulated and analyzed under different stress levels. The results demonstrate that the model accurately simulates crack propagation paths, interface damage evolution, and the fatigue life of RC beams under fatigue loading. A functional relationship between fatigue life and stress level was established for various rubber replacement rates. This study provides a reference model for numerical simulations of RC under fatigue loading conditions and introduces new approaches for analyzing the fatigue performance of other materials. © 2024 by the authors.