Thermoelastic multiscale analysis of concrete pavements subjected to hail showers

Abstract

Climate change is likely to increase the occurrence of extreme weather events. Thus, concrete pavements will likely be subjected more frequently to hail showers within their service life. Their influence on the structural behavior of the pavements is studied by means of thermoelastic multiscale analysis. Firstly, the stiffness and the thermal expansion coefficient of concrete are homogenized by means of a multiscale thermoporoelastic model, based on knowledge of the microstructural composition and the properties of the microstructural constituents. The quantified thermoelastic properties serve as input for macroscopic structural analysis of a concrete pavement subjected to thermomechanical loading. It delivers the temperature fields and macroscopic stress and strain states of the concrete. Finally, top-down scale transition is used to quantify the average microstresses of the cement paste and the aggregates.