Michèle Cristina Resende Farage

Multiscale modeling of the elastic moduli of lightweight aggregate concretes: numerical estimation and experimental validation

This study concerns the numerical simulation of effective elasticity modulus of lightweight concrete by means of Asymptotic Expansion Homogenization. Taking as input data the elastic pr oper ties of the aggr egate and mor tar employed in the concrete composition, it is possible to evaluate a homogenized elastic tensor for the resulting material. The present work deals with lightweight concretes made of the same mortar and five families of low density aggregates, with varying aggregate volumetric fractions. The multiscale model employed to represent the geometric and mechanical properties of the concrete is characterized by a great deal of simplicity . The validation of the adopted pr ocedur e consisted of comparisons of the numerical results with experimental measurements, showing good agreement.

Modelling of the mechanical behavior of concrete affected by alkali-aggregate reaction

Alkali-Aggregate Reaction (AAR) is a major cause of chemical damage in concrete structures, especially those exposed to moisture, leading to cracking, excessive strains and stress formation. This work presents the results of a numerical study where the mechanical behaviour of AAR attained structures is simulated under the assumption of coupling between confinement stresses and the reaction.