Influence of the depth and morphology of real cracks on diffuse ultrasound in concrete: A simulation study

•A numerical model for diffuse ultrasound is presented and validated.•A real crack in concrete is described and its morphology numerically implemented.•The contact density along the crack is determined.•Contact density is in agreement with the crack morphology presented in the literature.•Conclusions show future applications to crack sizing and imaging in concrete.

The aim of the present paper is to simulate the propagation of diffuse ultrasonic energy in concrete in the presence of a real crack. The numerical model is presented and validated by the comparison with experimental data from the literature. Unlike most of the studies which consider a crack as a notch, a realistic crack morphology exhibits partial contacts along its lips. These contacts are modeled in order to study their influence on the diffusion parameters. The feasibility of determining the contact density of the crack is shown, revealing practice implications for non-destructive crack sizing and imaging in concrete.