Quantifying Anisotropic Properties of Old–New Concrete Interfaces Using X-Ray Computed Tomography and Homogenization

The interface between old and new concrete is a critical component in many construction practices, including concrete pavements, bridge decks, hydraulic dams, and buildings undergoing rehabilitation. Despite various treatments to enhance bonding, this interface often remains a weak layer that compromises overall structural performance. Traditional design methods typically oversimplify the interface as a homogeneous or empirically adjusted factor, resulting in significant uncertainties. This paper introduces a novel framework for quantifying the anisotropic properties of old–new concrete interfaces using X-ray computed tomography (CT) and finite element-based numerical homogenization. The elastic coefficient matrix reveals that specimens away from the interface exhibit higher values in both normal and shear directions, with normal direction values averaging 33.15% higher and shear direction values 39.96% higher than those at the interface. A total of 10 sampling units along the interface were collected and analyzed to identify the “weakest vectors” in normal and shear directions. The “weakest vectors” at the interface show consistent orientations with an average cosine similarity of 0.62, compared with an average cosine similarity of 0.23 at the non-interface, which demonstrates directional features. Conversely, the result of average cosine similarity at the interface shows randomness that originates from the anisotropy of materials. The average angle between normal and shear stresses was found to be 88.64°, indicating a predominantly orthogonal relationship, though local stress distributions introduced slight deviations. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the anisotropic properties of old–new concrete interfaces to improve design and rehabilitation practices in concrete and structural engineering.

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