Computational model generation and RVE design of self-healing concrete

Computational homogenization is a versatile tool that can extract effective properties of heterogeneous or composite material through averaging technique. Self-healing concrete (SHC) is a heterogeneous material which has different constituents as cement matrix, sand and healing agent carrying capsules. Computational homogenization tool is applied in this paper to evaluate the effective properties of self-healing concrete. With this technique, macro and micro scales are bridged together which forms the basis for multi-scale modeling. Representative volume element (RVE) is a small (microscopic) cell which contains all the microphases of the microstructure. This paper presents a technique for RVE design of SHC and shows the influence of volume fractions of different constituents, RVE size and mesh uniformity on the homogenization results.