Computational Homogenization of Fresh Concrete Flow Around Reinforcing Bars

TL;DR

This paper presents a numerical homogenization model for steady-state non-Newtonian concrete flow around reinforcement, combining Darcy and Stokes flow models with FEM, validated against detailed simulations.

Contribution

It introduces a two-scale homogenization approach coupling Darcy and Stokes flows for modeling fresh concrete around reinforcement.

Findings

Homogenization accurately predicts flow behavior around reinforcement.

The model reduces computational complexity compared to full simulations.

Results are validated against direct numerical simulations.

Abstract

Motivated by casting of fresh concrete in reinforced concrete structures, we introduce a numerical model of a steady-state non-Newtonian fluid flow through a porous domain. Our approach combines homogenization techniques to represent the reinforced domain by the Darcy law with an interface coupling of the Stokes and Darcy flows through the Beavers-Joseph-Saffman conditions. The ensuing two-scale problem is solved by the Finite Element Method with consistent linearization and the results obtained from the homogenization approach are verified against fully resolved direct numerical simulations.