Effect of mesostructure heterogeneity on the moisture and heat diffusion in concrete through a multi-phase discrete modelling approach

The transition towards a greener and more resilient construction sector often deals with mix design optimization to fulfil target performance. Customised mixes generally differ in terms of aggregate and binder types, aggregate size distribution, and additives. Optimizing concrete mixes requires understanding how different components interact and affect the concrete’s overall performance. This contribution presents a 2-phase discrete meso-scale model able to simulate how chemical reactions and transport phenomena of heat and moisture are affected by aggregate and binder properties. Benchmark numerical simulations of 1D moisture and heat diffusion in concrete are performed to showcase the enhanced capability of the proposed model to capture the spatial variability in moisture and temperature gradients.