In-service performance of renders using a cohesive zone model

The in-service performance of renders is a challenging research topic, as it depends on several uncorrelated factors. The purpose of this paper is to enhance the knowledge of the render׳s adhesion through the use of numerical modelling that can allow significantly quicker analyses of the adhesion phenomena. Two alternative models (an interface and a contact model) are presented and discussed through four numerical applications. Both models use an independent cohesive zone model with different properties for the render and for the substrate. The numerical applications focus on the analyses of local defects, cracking patterns and thermal gradients. All lead to consistent results, reproduce the expected in-service behavior and identify the most highly stressed areas, which are fundamental to predict future problems in terms of adhesion.