Description

A new adaptive multi-scale method is developed to simulate the trans-level failure process of concrete-based structures from evolving random damage in meso-scale to structural failure with three-hierarchy model which respectively describe non-key, key and damaged regions with different sizes of elements. Automated optimization design system coupled in the method ensures adaptive hierarchy change due to evolving damage without user intervention in the computation. The adaptive modeling strategy and theory of the method have been discussed by considering the multi-scale and cross-level damage evolution from meso-scale to macro-scale and across the material, component and structural level with lower cost and sufficient precision. As a case study of the method, the process of evolving meso-damage to structural failure of one concrete structure is simulated, which shows that the developed method can be used to reveal the failure mechanisms of concrete structures from the view of meso-scale as well as better computational efficiency.