Discussion on the Gradation and Interface Effects on the Dynamic Mechanical Behaviors of Hydraulic Concrete Based on Meso-Mechanical Simulation

Hydraulic concrete is quite different from normal concrete in the terms of aggregate gradation and construction-induced interfaces. To explore their influences on the dynamic mechanical behaviors of hydraulic concrete, several mesoscale numerical models with different aggregate gradations and interfaces were established and subjected to dynamic compressive or tensile loadings. The results show that aggregate gradation significantly affected hydraulic concrete failure patterns under dynamic loads, but interface effects were less obvious, and stressing uniformity improved with an increasing loading rate. The dynamic compressive and tensile strengths of hydraulic concrete showed a strain rate effect independent of gradation, but decreased with larger coarse aggregates, especially at higher rates. Weak-bonding interfaces significantly reduced strength at low loading rates, with a more pronounced effect on tensile strength than compressive strength. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the application of hydraulic concrete containing large-size aggregates in practical engineering.