Cement composites are the most popular and widely used construction
material in the world. Understanding and predicting fracture processes in these materials
is scientifically challenging but important for durability assessments and life extension
decisions. A recently proposed microstructure-informed site-bond model with elasticbrittle spring bundles is developed further to predict the elastic properties and fracture
process of cement paste. It accounts for microstructure characteristics obtained from
high resolution X-ray computed microtomography (micro-CT). Volume fraction and
size distribution of anhydrous cement grains are used to determine the model length
scale and pore-less elasticity. Porosity and pore size distribution are used for tuning
elastic and failure properties of individual bonds. The fracture process is simulated by
consecutive removal of bonds subject to failure criterion. The stress-strain response and
elastic properties of cement paste are obtained. The simulated Young’s modulus and
deformation response prior to peak stress agree very well with the experimental data.
The proposed model provides an effective tool to simulate micro-cracks initiation,
propagation, coalescence and localization
