The Effect of Initial Defects on Overall Mechanical Properties of Concrete Material

Considering the fact that the initial defects, like the imperfect interfacial transition zones (ITZ) and the micro voids in mortar matrix, weaken the mechanical properties of concrete, this study develops corresponding constitutive models for ITZ and matrix, and simulates the concrete failure with finite element methods. Specifically, an elastic-damage traction-separation model for ITZ is constructed, and an anisotropic plastic-damage model distinguishing the strength-difference under tension and compression for mortar matrix is proposed as well. In this anisotropic plastic-damage model, the weakening effect of micro voids is reflected by introducing initial isotropic damage, the distinct characteristic of tension and compression which described by decomposing damage tensor into tensile and compressive components, and the plastic yield surface which established on the effective stress space. Furthermore, by tracking the damage evolution of concrete specimens suffering uniaxial tension and compression, the effects of imperfect status of ITZ and volume fraction of initial voids on the concrete mechanical properties are investigated.