Multi-scale hygro-thermo-mechanical simulation of concrete drying shrinkage damage

authored by: Peng Zhang, Ming Feng Kai, Xiao Ying Zhuang, Jian Guo Dai
Abstract: Predicting drying shrinkage-induced damage in concrete necessitates a multi-scale approach. This study introduces a comprehensive hygro-thermo-mechanical modeling framework to investigate this damage from the molecular to the meso‑scale. At the molecular level, the classical density functional theory (cDFT) is adopted to model the water-calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) layer interactions. At the micro-scale, thermodynamic models, informed by the cement paste's pore size distribution (PSD), simulate its desorption and shrinkage behaviors. This molecular and micro-scale information is then integrated to predict moisture transport and resulting shrinkage strains at the meso‑scale. The internal stresses arising from these shrinkage strains subsequently drive drying shrinkage-induced damage, the evolution of which is characterized at the meso‑scale by a thermodynamically consistent hygro-thermo-mechanical phase field model. Thermal and mechanical processes are simulated using the properties of sufficiently mature concrete, ensuring simplicity without compromising accuracy. The predictive capabilities of this multi-scale framework are validated through representative simulations compared against experimental data, demonstrating its accuracy across the different scales.
Organisation(s): Institute of Photonics
Faculty of Mathematics and Physics
External Organisation(s): City University of Hong Kong
Jinan University
Tongji University
Type: Article
Journal: International Journal of Mechanical Sciences
Volume: 301
ISSN: 0020-7403
Publication date: 01.09.2025
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Civil and Structural Engineering, General Materials Science, Condensed Matter Physics, Aerospace Engineering, Ocean Engineering, Mechanics of Materials, Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mathematics
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmecsci.2025.110546 (Access: Closed)
: Details in the research portal "Research@Leibniz University"

BibTeX

@article{96eee3bf5ef44827aadfd0cd22190adb,
title = "Multi-scale hygro-thermo-mechanical simulation of concrete drying shrinkage damage",
abstract = "Predicting drying shrinkage-induced damage in concrete necessitates a multi-scale approach. This study introduces a comprehensive hygro-thermo-mechanical modeling framework to investigate this damage from the molecular to the meso‑scale. At the molecular level, the classical density functional theory (cDFT) is adopted to model the water-calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) layer interactions. At the micro-scale, thermodynamic models, informed by the cement paste's pore size distribution (PSD), simulate its desorption and shrinkage behaviors. This molecular and micro-scale information is then integrated to predict moisture transport and resulting shrinkage strains at the meso‑scale. The internal stresses arising from these shrinkage strains subsequently drive drying shrinkage-induced damage, the evolution of which is characterized at the meso‑scale by a thermodynamically consistent hygro-thermo-mechanical phase field model. Thermal and mechanical processes are simulated using the properties of sufficiently mature concrete, ensuring simplicity without compromising accuracy. The predictive capabilities of this multi-scale framework are validated through representative simulations compared against experimental data, demonstrating its accuracy across the different scales.",
keywords = "cDFT, Concrete, Damage, Drying-shrinkage, Multi-scale modeling, Phase field model",
author = "Peng Zhang and Kai, {Ming Feng} and Zhuang, {Xiao Ying} and Dai, {Jian Guo}",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 Elsevier Ltd",
year = "2025",
month = sep,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1016/j.ijmecsci.2025.110546",
language = "English",
volume = "301",
journal = "International Journal of Mechanical Sciences",
issn = "0020-7403",
publisher = "Elsevier Ltd.",
}

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