Numerical simulation of the rheological behavior of fresh concrete

This thesis reports recent numerical investigation of the rheological behavior of fresh concrete using the Distinct Element Method (DEM). Some relevant questions of the concrete rheology e.g. the influence of the concrete composition on the rheological behavior of the fresh concrete, the experimental determination of the Bingham rheological constants as well as the use of these constants in the numerical simulation were discussed thoroughly. An important topic of the performed investigation was the development of the numerical model for fresh concrete which enables simple, fast and stable predictive simulation of different technological operations with fresh concrete. Firstly, in a literature survey, the state-of-the-art of the numerical simulation of fresh concrete was presented and critically discussed in order to show advantages and disadvantages of other methods and modeling approaches. Open (unsolved) questions were highlighted and the basis for their investigation is created within this thesis. Fundamental concepts of the rheology were then presented and the basic rheological models of viscoelastic materials were considered; the rheological behaviors of different types of concretes were presented and its influencing factors were discussed. Additionally main methods for scientific investigation and testing of the fresh concrete were shown. The test methods were critically discussed in order to select the test, which has been used as a reference experimental test for the numerical simulations. Chosen reference experimental test was the slump flow test. The slump flow test was thoroughly analyzed and an analytical solution was developed which helps to interpret the results of measurements and provides a link between rheological constants and measured quantities. In a further step an extensive experimental program was carried out in order to investigate the rheological behavior of fresh concrete and get the input data for numerical simulation. Firstly, the experiments on macrolevel were performed. Here the rheological behavior of the fresh concrete flow in different tests was investigated (slump and slump flow tests, L-Box). Further, the experiments on mesolevel with polymer on Carbopol basis and mortar were developed and performed in order to investigate the interaction between distinct particles suspended in a fluid matrix. The necessary material parameters, especially those representative of the fluid suspension micromechanical behavior, i.e. the force-displacement relationship, yield force and bond strength, were determined by these experiments. The slump flow test was used as the basic test to calibrate the model for fresh concrete (key data: slump value, slump flow diameter (for concretes with a soft consistency) and the time of spreading). Thus, the decisive phenomena of the fresh concrete flow were highlighted, control points for a contact model were selected and the initial input data for the development of the contact model was obtained. Next, the user-defined contact model was developed and implemented into the Particle Flow Code ITASCA. The contact model was completely described and its limitations discussed. Then, the set of numerical tools was developed, which enable simplified and stable numerical simulation of the fresh concrete with particular behavior, i.e. automatic generation of the concrete with given particle grading, amount of fibers and air, automatic recalculation of the micromechanical parameters of the contact model from given initial yield stress and plastic viscosity. The model was calibrated by slump flow test simulations and validated by corresponding analytical approach. Further, the role of different model parameters was investigated by simulating the slump flow test. Furthermore, for verification of the model several additional experiments were simulated, i.e. L-Box and LCPC-box test. The results of modeling were compared with experimental results and discussed in detail. All numerical simulations provide qualitatively as well as quantitatively correct results and hence adequately represent the phenomena observed in real experiments. The thesis closes with general conclusions and outlook of the work. In the future, the developed contact model and tools of the “Virtual concrete laboratory” could be modified in order to extend the potential of the laboratory to cover such properties as thixotropic behavior of fresh concrete or simulating hardening of the concrete and behavior of the hardened concrete

Numerical simulations of concrete flow: A benchmark comparison

First, we define in this paper two benchmark flows readily usable by anyone calibrating a numerical tool for concrete flow prediction. Such benchmark flows shall allow anyone to check the validity of their computational tools no matter the numerical methods and parameters they choose. Second, we compare numerical predictions for these two benchmark flows obtained by various research teams around the world using various numerical techniques. Our results show that all numerical techniques compared here give very similar results suggesting that numerical simulations of concrete flow have reached a technology readiness level allowing them to move from the lab to the industrial practice

Numerical simulation of the rheological behavior of fresh concrete

This thesis reports recent numerical investigation of the rheological behavior of fresh concrete using the Distinct Element Method (DEM). Some relevant questions of the concrete rheology e.g. the influence of the concrete composition on the rheological behavior of the fresh concrete, the experimental determination of the Bingham rheological constants as well as the use of these constants in the numerical simulation were discussed thoroughly. An important topic of the performed investigation was the development of the numerical model for fresh concrete which enables simple, fast and stable predictive simulation of different technological operations with fresh concrete. Firstly, in a literature survey, the state-of-the-art of the numerical simulation of fresh concrete was presented and critically discussed in order to show advantages and disadvantages of other methods and modeling approaches. Open (unsolved) questions were highlighted and the basis for their investigation is created within this thesis. Fundamental concepts of the rheology were then presented and the basic rheological models of viscoelastic materials were considered; the rheological behaviors of different types of concretes were presented and its influencing factors were discussed. Additionally main methods for scientific investigation and testing of the fresh concrete were shown. The test methods were critically discussed in order to select the test, which has been used as a reference experimental test for the numerical simulations. Chosen reference experimental test was the slump flow test. The slump flow test was thoroughly analyzed and an analytical solution was developed which helps to interpret the results of measurements and provides a link between rheological constants and measured quantities. In a further step an extensive experimental program was carried out in order to investigate the rheological behavior of fresh concrete and get the input data for numerical simulation. Firstly, the experiments on macrolevel were performed. Here the rheological behavior of the fresh concrete flow in different tests was investigated (slump and slump flow tests, L-Box). Further, the experiments on mesolevel with polymer on Carbopol basis and mortar were developed and performed in order to investigate the interaction between distinct particles suspended in a fluid matrix. The necessary material parameters, especially those representative of the fluid suspension micromechanical behavior, i.e. the force-displacement relationship, yield force and bond strength, were determined by these experiments. The slump flow test was used as the basic test to calibrate the model for fresh concrete (key data: slump value, slump flow diameter (for concretes with a soft consistency) and the time of spreading). Thus, the decisive phenomena of the fresh concrete flow were highlighted, control points for a contact model were selected and the initial input data for the development of the contact model was obtained. Next, the user-defined contact model was developed and implemented into the Particle Flow Code ITASCA. The contact model was completely described and its limitations discussed. Then, the set of numerical tools was developed, which enable simplified and stable numerical simulation of the fresh concrete with particular behavior, i.e. automatic generation of the concrete with given particle grading, amount of fibers and air, automatic recalculation of the micromechanical parameters of the contact model from given initial yield stress and plastic viscosity. The model was calibrated by slump flow test simulations and validated by corresponding analytical approach. Further, the role of different model parameters was investigated by simulating the slump flow test. Furthermore, for verification of the model several additional experiments were simulated, i.e. L-Box and LCPC-box test. The results of modeling were compared with experimental results and discussed in detail. All numerical simulations provide qualitatively as well as quantitatively correct results and hence adequately represent the phenomena observed in real experiments. The thesis closes with general conclusions and outlook of the work. In the future, the developed contact model and tools of the “Virtual concrete laboratory” could be modified in order to extend the potential of the laboratory to cover such properties as thixotropic behavior of fresh concrete or simulating hardening of the concrete and behavior of the hardened concrete

Numerical simulation of the rheological behavior of fresh concrete

This thesis reports recent numerical investigation of the rheological behavior of fresh concrete using the Distinct Element Method (DEM). Some relevant questions of the concrete rheology e.g. the influence of the concrete composition on the rheological behavior of the fresh concrete, the experimental determination of the Bingham rheological constants as well as the use of these constants in the numerical simulation were discussed thoroughly. An important topic of the performed investigation was the development of the numerical model for fresh concrete which enables simple, fast and stable predictive simulation of different technological operations with fresh concrete. Firstly, in a literature survey, the state-of-the-art of the numerical simulation of fresh concrete was presented and critically discussed in order to show advantages and disadvantages of other methods and modeling approaches. Open (unsolved) questions were highlighted and the basis for their investigation is created within this thesis. Fundamental concepts of the rheology were then presented and the basic rheological models of viscoelastic materials were considered; the rheological behaviors of different types of concretes were presented and its influencing factors were discussed. Additionally main methods for scientific investigation and testing of the fresh concrete were shown. The test methods were critically discussed in order to select the test, which has been used as a reference experimental test for the numerical simulations. Chosen reference experimental test was the slump flow test. The slump flow test was thoroughly analyzed and an analytical solution was developed which helps to interpret the results of measurements and provides a link between rheological constants and measured quantities. In a further step an extensive experimental program was carried out in order to investigate the rheological behavior of fresh concrete and get the input data for numerical simulation. Firstly, the experiments on macrolevel were performed. Here the rheological behavior of the fresh concrete flow in different tests was investigated (slump and slump flow tests, L-Box). Further, the experiments on mesolevel with polymer on Carbopol basis and mortar were developed and performed in order to investigate the interaction between distinct particles suspended in a fluid matrix. The necessary material parameters, especially those representative of the fluid suspension micromechanical behavior, i.e. the force-displacement relationship, yield force and bond strength, were determined by these experiments. The slump flow test was used as the basic test to calibrate the model for fresh concrete (key data: slump value, slump flow diameter (for concretes with a soft consistency) and the time of spreading). Thus, the decisive phenomena of the fresh concrete flow were highlighted, control points for a contact model were selected and the initial input data for the development of the contact model was obtained. Next, the user-defined contact model was developed and implemented into the Particle Flow Code ITASCA. The contact model was completely described and its limitations discussed. Then, the set of numerical tools was developed, which enable simplified and stable numerical simulation of the fresh concrete with particular behavior, i.e. automatic generation of the concrete with given particle grading, amount of fibers and air, automatic recalculation of the micromechanical parameters of the contact model from given initial yield stress and plastic viscosity. The model was calibrated by slump flow test simulations and validated by corresponding analytical approach. Further, the role of different model parameters was investigated by simulating the slump flow test. Furthermore, for verification of the model several additional experiments were simulated, i.e. L-Box and LCPC-box test. The results of modeling were compared with experimental results and discussed in detail. All numerical simulations provide qualitatively as well as quantitatively correct results and hence adequately represent the phenomena observed in real experiments. The thesis closes with general conclusions and outlook of the work. In the future, the developed contact model and tools of the “Virtual concrete laboratory” could be modified in order to extend the potential of the laboratory to cover such properties as thixotropic behavior of fresh concrete or simulating hardening of the concrete and behavior of the hardened concrete

Numerical simulation of the rheological behavior of fresh concrete

This thesis reports recent numerical investigation of the rheological behavior of fresh concrete using the Distinct Element Method (DEM). Some relevant questions of the concrete rheology e.g. the influence of the concrete composition on the rheological behavior of the fresh concrete, the experimental determination of the Bingham rheological constants as well as the use of these constants in the numerical simulation were discussed thoroughly. An important topic of the performed investigation was the development of the numerical model for fresh concrete which enables simple, fast and stable predictive simulation of different technological operations with fresh concrete. Firstly, in a literature survey, the state-of-the-art of the numerical simulation of fresh concrete was presented and critically discussed in order to show advantages and disadvantages of other methods and modeling approaches. Open (unsolved) questions were highlighted and the basis for their investigation is created within this thesis. Fundamental concepts of the rheology were then presented and the basic rheological models of viscoelastic materials were considered; the rheological behaviors of different types of concretes were presented and its influencing factors were discussed. Additionally main methods for scientific investigation and testing of the fresh concrete were shown. The test methods were critically discussed in order to select the test, which has been used as a reference experimental test for the numerical simulations. Chosen reference experimental test was the slump flow test. The slump flow test was thoroughly analyzed and an analytical solution was developed which helps to interpret the results of measurements and provides a link between rheological constants and measured quantities. In a further step an extensive experimental program was carried out in order to investigate the rheological behavior of fresh concrete and get the input data for numerical simulation. Firstly, the experiments on macrolevel were performed. Here the rheological behavior of the fresh concrete flow in different tests was investigated (slump and slump flow tests, L-Box). Further, the experiments on mesolevel with polymer on Carbopol basis and mortar were developed and performed in order to investigate the interaction between distinct particles suspended in a fluid matrix. The necessary material parameters, especially those representative of the fluid suspension micromechanical behavior, i.e. the force-displacement relationship, yield force and bond strength, were determined by these experiments. The slump flow test was used as the basic test to calibrate the model for fresh concrete (key data: slump value, slump flow diameter (for concretes with a soft consistency) and the time of spreading). Thus, the decisive phenomena of the fresh concrete flow were highlighted, control points for a contact model were selected and the initial input data for the development of the contact model was obtained. Next, the user-defined contact model was developed and implemented into the Particle Flow Code ITASCA. The contact model was completely described and its limitations discussed. Then, the set of numerical tools was developed, which enable simplified and stable numerical simulation of the fresh concrete with particular behavior, i.e. automatic generation of the concrete with given particle grading, amount of fibers and air, automatic recalculation of the micromechanical parameters of the contact model from given initial yield stress and plastic viscosity. The model was calibrated by slump flow test simulations and validated by corresponding analytical approach. Further, the role of different model parameters was investigated by simulating the slump flow test. Furthermore, for verification of the model several additional experiments were simulated, i.e. L-Box and LCPC-box test. The results of modeling were compared with experimental results and discussed in detail. All numerical simulations provide qualitatively as well as quantitatively correct results and hence adequately represent the phenomena observed in real experiments. The thesis closes with general conclusions and outlook of the work. In the future, the developed contact model and tools of the “Virtual concrete laboratory” could be modified in order to extend the potential of the laboratory to cover such properties as thixotropic behavior of fresh concrete or simulating hardening of the concrete and behavior of the hardened concrete