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Numerical investigation on the passing ability of fresh self-compacting concrete with different aggregate morphology using cohesive particle liquid bridge model

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Abstract

Passing ability is an important property of self-compacting concrete (SCC). Blockage due to poor passing ability leads to the formation of voids, thereby creating weak areas in concrete structure. Moreover, the aggregate morphology greatly influences the passing ability of fresh SCC. In this study, the 3D laser scanning technology and the digital image processing technology were used to quantitatively characterize the aggregate morphology. The aggregate Clump model with natural morphology was generated using the Bubble Pack algorithm. Also, a virtual aggregate database was built, and a 3D discrete element modeling framework for J-Ring test based on the adhesive rolling resistance linear model was proposed. On this basis, the effects of sphericity from 0.5 to 0.9, angularity index from 250 to 650, and rebar spacing from 37.7 to 79.5 mm on the passing ability of SCC were quantitatively analyzed, and the blockage mechanism of SCC was discussed from the meso-scale level. The results show that blockage in SCC is a probabilistic event. The existence of flaky, elongated and multi-angular aggregates increases the possibility of forming granular arches, and the closer the aggregate is to a sphere or the smoother the surface contour, the better the passing ability of fresh SCC. However, when the sphericity index is greater than 0.8, the angularity index is greater than 550, and the rebar spacing is greater than three times the maximum aggregate size, the effect of aggregate morphology or rebar spacing on the passing ability of SCC is not significant.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 52078490). The authors acknowledge this support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Civil Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410075, Hunan, China

    Xiaohui Zeng, Junqing Wu, Xiang Zhou & Hussaini Abdullahi Umar

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 810107, Nigeria

    Hussaini Abdullahi Umar

  3. China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group CO.LTD, Chengdu, 610031, Sichuan, China

    Li Yao

  4. Shenzhen Metro Group CO.LTD, Shenzhen, 518000, China

    Jinhui Liu

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  1. Xiaohui Zeng
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  2. Junqing Wu
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Correspondence to Xiang Zhou.

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Zeng, X., Wu, J., Zhou, X. et al. Numerical investigation on the passing ability of fresh self-compacting concrete with different aggregate morphology using cohesive particle liquid bridge model. Mater Struct 56, 104 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-023-02192-y

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