A direct FEM approach to model mesoscale concrete and connect non-matching meshes in multiscale analysis

Abstract The mechanical degradation of concrete structures is a phenomenon dependent on the material heterogeneity observed at mesoscale. As localized phenomenon, structural members and may be simulated using concurrent multiscale analysis technique. Thus, only most critical regions are modeled in mesoscale, reducing computational cost compared to simulation entire structure this scale. This work presents two contributions analysis. first contribution introduces an alternative representation mesoscale interfacial transition zone (ITZ) together with strategy that allows modeling particles (coarse aggregates) without degrees freedom. resulting ITZ more realistic discrete cracks modeling. second uses particle-like elements freedom as coupling model non-matching meshes between different media. proposed technique does not add use penalty or Lagrange Multipliers methods. Experimental numerical results used order validate formulation regarding specimen simulations.