DEM Simulation and Analysis for Drop-Weight Experiments of Barite Concrete Beam

A meso-scale discrete element model(DEM)of barite concrete beam was developed by the aid of DEM software PFC2D. Using this model, numerical simulations of the test conditions in meso-scale were conducted as well. The dynamic failure process of barite concrete was simulated by changing the quality and drop height of the hammer under the condition of strain rates ranging from 1.4s -1 to 4.0s -1 , which got the curve of force histories, vertical deflection histories and strain histories.The results of simulation match well with the measurements, thus the model is validated experimentally. Compared with the failure mode at low strain rates, the failure mode at high strain rates suggests that the occurrence of more cracks is the key factor for the strain-rate effects in concrete.