Damages and failure features of liquid rubber-based concrete in statics tension by 2D dynamics numerical simulation

The liquid rubber-based concrete is a new kind of concrete-like composite in which the matrix is the liquid rubber substituting the conventional cement mortar; the aggregate is also a stone with irregular shape and geometry. Such a new concrete not only has heterogeneous mesostructure, but also is a composite with two basic materials with significantly different mechanical properties. The damage and failure features under loading are keys for the further improvement of mechanical properties of the new material. In this article, the new concrete is modeled as a three-phase composite consisting of aggregate, liquid rubber matrix, and interface between the aggregate and the liquid rubber matrix. The interface is regarded as an independent material with given geometry and mechanical properties. The new material's tensile properties were simulated dynamically in a condition of uniform displacement load on the tensile boundary and a deactivating element technique was used to deal with the failed elements. Special attention was paid to the influence of the loading rates and the properties (thickness, strength, failure strain) of the interfacial 'material.' Finally, the tensile properties of the new concrete were simulated successfully; the deformation and failure of the mesostructure of the new concrete were observed. The approaches will give some highlights to the optimization methods of the new concrete. Also, the numerical techniques for modeling, such kind of materials with strong heterogeneous mesostructure were recommended.