A Statistical Finite Element Method Integrating a Plurigaussian Random Field Generator for Multi-scale Modelling of Solute Transport in Concrete

Abstract A new model for the multi-scale simulation of solute transport in concrete is presented. The employs plurigaussian simulations to generate stochastic representations micro- and meso-structures. These are idealised as two-phase medium comprising mortar matrix pores micro-structure, large aggregate particles meso-structure. generated meso-structures employed a finite element analysis steady-state diffusion solutes. results used calculate effective coefficients meso-structures, turn, coefficient at macro-scale which material considered homogenous. Multiple account uncertainty macro-scale. In addition, level calculated quantified through statistical analysis. numerical predictions validated against experimental observations concerning chloride specimen, suggesting that structures representative pore-space coarse seen meso-scales, respectively. method also has clear advantage over many other structural generation methods, such packing algorithms, due its low computational expense. ability represent complex phenomena particulate materials, characteristics may be controlled careful choice intrinsic field parameters lithotype rules.