Damage modelling in refractory castables by finite element simulations is difficult. Indeed, the use of a continuum damage model with softening leads to strain localization phenomena. Results depend on the meshing. But, to simulate correctly the behaviour of structures based on refractory castables, damage has to be taken into account. Indeed, damage behaviour is the origin of size effect and strain localization which are two mechanical characteristics of a quasi brittle behaviour. Strain localization and crack initiation are particularly important to reproduce stress field modifications. In this paper, a non-local regularization method is applied and coupled to the Mazars's damage model considering a scalar damage value. After the identification of the constitutive law parameters, three points bending tests are simulated. The objective of this first step is to highlight the size effect sensitivity of the reinforced refractory castable. Then, the damage model is applied to industrial cases considering refractory based structures submitted to thermal shocks.
展开▼
