Finite element simulation of thermal cracking in massive hardening concrete elements using degree of hydration based material laws

In massive hardening concrete elements, early age thermal cracking due to the heat of hydration might occur. At Ghent University, a simulation procedure is developed, based on the degree of hydration as a fundamental parameter. This parameter is related with the microstructural development during cement hydration. Accurate finite element simulations are obtained for the problem of early age thermal cracking, applying a staggered analysis. The time dependent material behaviour is implemented by means of a Kelvin chain. The cracking behaviour is implemented using a smeared cracking approach with non-linear softening behaviour. The results of the model are verified experimentally.