An Internal Expansive Stress Model of Concrete under Sulfate Attack

Concrete experiences expansive deformation during sulfate attack due to internal expansive stress. Sulfate ions enter concrete pores, react with the pore solution, and produce ettringite. The production of ettringite explains the internal expansive stress that reduces the durability of concrete. In this study, the model of internal expansive stress was achieved through the Eshelby's theory, as well as the experimental results for concrete erosion. Numerical simulation indicated that internal expansive stress is not only determined by the water-to-cement ratio of concrete and the concentration of sulfate solution, but also affected by the relaxation time of concrete.