Complas 2025

COMPLAS 2025

A Chemo-Mechanical Model For Simulating Sulfate Attack In Concrete Structures

Rooyackers, Frits (Eindhoven University of Technology)
Luimes, Rianne (Eindhoven University of Technology)
Suiker, Akke (Eindhoven University of Technology)
Clemens, Francois (Norwegian University of Science & Technology)
Bosco, Emanuela (Eindhoven University of Technology)

In session: 608A - Fracture, Damage and Failure Mechanics of Cementitious Materials I

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This contribution presents a chemo-mechanical model for simulating sulfate attack in concrete structures. The chemical model is formulated as a system of coupled diffusion-reaction equations that describe the dissolution of calcium hydroxide, the dissolution of calcium silicate hydrate, and the formation of gypsum. This chemical process is two-way coupled with a mechanical model that accounts for damage caused by mechanical deformations, calcium silicate hydrate dissolution, and gypsum formation. Numerical analyses demonstrate that the model effectively simulates the growth of a gypsum-induced degradation layer and the resulting damage in the concrete material. To validate the model, an experiment replicating the chemical process of sulfate attack was conducted, confirming that the chemo-mechanical model accurately reproduces both the shape of the experimental degradation profile and the square root time dependence of material deterioration depth.