Numerical simulation of degradation of porous building materials caused by freeze-thaw cycles

Abstract

Freeze-thaw cycles in porous building materials are studied in this contribution. Degradation and durability of many building materials as well as structural elements are tightly connected with the freeze-thaw cycles. The porosimetry curve and Gibbs-Thomson equation are used for estimates of volume changes caused by the freeze-thaw cycles. The volume changes are used in mechanical analysis based on the isotropic damage model. Numerical example documents the approach proposed.