Modeling of time-varying stress in concrete under axial loading and sulfate attack

This paper has numerically investigated the changes of loading-induced stress in concrete with the corrosion time in the sulfate-containing environment. Firstly, based on Fick's law and reaction kinetics, a diffusion-reaction equation of sulfate ion in concrete is proposed, and it is numerically solved to obtain the spatial and temporal distribution of sulfate ion concentration in concrete by the finite difference method. Secondly, by fitting the existed experimental data of concrete in sodium sulfate solutions, the chemical damage of concrete associated with sulfate ion concentration and corrosion time is quantitatively presented. Thirdly, depending on the plastic-damage mechanics, while considering the influence of sulfate attack on concrete properties, a simplified chemo-mechanical damage model, with stress-based plasticity and strain-driven damage, for concrete under axial loading and sulfate attack is determined by introducing the chemical damage degree. Finally, an axially compressed concrete prism immersed into the sodium sulfate solution is regarded as an object to investigate the time-varying stress in concrete subjected to the couplings of axial loading and sulfate attack.