3D meso-scale modelling of foamed concrete based on X-ray Computed Tomography

Foamed concrete has been widely used in infrastructure construction and poses new challenges to design and modelling. This paper investigates the behaviour of foamed concrete with the help of X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT), which is capable of characterising the microstructure of foamed concrete. An in situ compressive test-XCT scan is carried out to observe the failure mechanism of foamed concrete by XCT when subjected to compression load. A meso-scale simulation based on XCT images is conducted to simulate the behaviour of foamed concrete. An algorithm that directly reconstructs the meso-scale model from XCT images is developed. The experimental and numerical results show that foamed concrete exhibits a significant change in mechanical behaviour; it is less brittle compared to the response of dense samples. However, the reduction in the level of brittleness is accompanied by a significant decrease in compressive strength. Failure development inside samples is successfully captured by the XCT scan and the meso-scale modelling. The topology of foamed structures, in particular the chain of interconnected pores, influences the failure mechanism of foamed concrete. The combination of XCT scan and meso-scale modelling provides a comprehensive framework to understand the mechanical behaviour of foamed concrete.