Uniaxial Compression Failure and Size Effect of Recycled Aggregate Concrete Based on Meso-Simulation Analysis

Recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) is a kind of five-phase composite material at the meso-level. It has a more complex interfacial transition zone (ITZ) than ordinary aggregate concrete (NAC), which is an important factor affecting the meso-failure of RAC. In addition, the maximum aggregate size plays an important role in the nonlinear mechanical behavior of concrete, which is closely related to the size effect. In this paper, a 2D random aggregate model of RAC is established based on meso-mechanics. The mechanical properties and failure modes of RAC under uniaxial compression are simulated using a plastic damage constitutive model. Through variable parameter analysis, the effects of the properties and thickness of ITZ on the elastic modulus and peak stress of RAC are studied, and the effect of the maximum aggregate size on the size effect of the compressive strength of RAC is discussed. The results show that the ITZ strength has a positive linear correlation with the peak stress and elastic modulus of RAC, while the ITZ thickness has a negative linear correlation with the peak stress and elastic modulus of RAC. Under the same specimen size (D = 100 mm, 150 mm, 200 mm, 300 mm), with an increase in the maximum aggregate size (d(max) =20 mm, 25 mm, 30 mm, 35 mm), the nominal compressive strength of RAC increases by 6–10%, and the size effect is gradually weakened. When the maximum aggregate size reaches 30 mm, a decrease in the size effect tends to slow down compared with the maximum aggregate size of 20 mm. The classical Bažant size effect law is applicable to describe the compressive properties of RAC under different maximum aggregate sizes, and has a certain guiding significance for the prediction of the size effect of RAC in practical engineering.