Numerical calculation mechanics model considering hydration of concrete

A fracture mechanics model on a meso-scale level considering hydration reaction of cement is formulated and simulation results by the proposed model are presented. The proposed model is composed of three calculation routines: the hydration process on the basis of the so-called "HYMOSTRUC" developed at the Technical University of Delft, the heat conduction and thermal analyses and the numerical fracture mechanics. A unique point of this study is that a procedure identifying material parameters at an arbitrary time is developed in terms of the degree of cement hydration. Validity of the proposed procedure is investigated through applications of the thermal and cracking analyses. The present model for cracking analysis is able to clarify effect of material age on maximum load, softening curve and fracture process zone.