Temperature Response and Thermo-Mechanical Field Regulation Mechanism of Phase Change Concrete under Freeze-Thaw Cycles

doi:10.16552/j.cnki.issn1001-1625.2025.0799

Abstract

Abstract:

China has a wide distribution of severely cold and cold regions， where concrete structures are long-term exposed to freeze-thaw cycles， making them prone to damage and significantly shortening their service life. Leveraging their heat absorption and release properties， phase change materials can effectively regulate the temperature and stress fields within concrete. Based on this， this study first established a mesoscale finite element model of phase change concrete considering different phase change material content and replacement ratios of recycled aggregates， and validated the model’s accuracy through CT scanning tests. Subsequently， the finite element numerical simulation method was employed to analyze the temperature response and the evolution law of the thermal-mechanical field in phase change concrete during freeze-thaw cycles. The results indicate that phase change materials can effectively inhibit the transfer rate of external temperature into concrete， mitigating the temperature fluctuations caused by increased replacement ratios of recycled aggregates. Meanwhile， the incorporation of phase change materials significantly reduces the average thermal stress and the maximum principal stress difference within concrete. When the content of phase change materials increases from 0% to 8% （mass fraction）， the average thermal stress of concrete decreases by 12.6%， and the average maximum principal stress difference in the interfacial transition zone between aggregates and mortar drops by 47.0%. By buffering temperature-induced deformations through their latent heat effects， phase change materials effectively alleviate stress concentration， thereby enhancing the freeze-thaw resistance of concrete.

Key words: phase change concrete, recycled aggregate, freeze-thaw cycle, thermo-mechanical field, freeze-thaw resistance

CLC Number:

TU528

LI Tong, WANG Qinghe, ZHANG Yichao. Temperature Response and Thermo-Mechanical Field Regulation Mechanism of Phase Change Concrete under Freeze-Thaw Cycles[J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2026, 45(1): 69-80.

Figures/Tables 14

Fig.1 Mesoscopic finite element model of concrete with a recycled aggregate replacement rate of 0% and a phase change material content of 4%

Fig.2 Mesoscopic finite element model of concrete with a recycled aggregate replacement rate of 50% and a phase change material content of 0%

Table 1 Thermal and mechanical parameters of phase change concrete

Item	Specific heat capacity/（J·kg^-1·K^-1）	Thermal conductivity/（W·m^-1·K^-1）	Coefficient of thermal expansion/K^-1	Density/ （kg·m^-3）	Elastic modulus/GPa	Poisson ratio
Aggregate	840.2	2.932	－	2 600	71.20	0.16
ITZ between aggregate and new mortar	840.2	0.931	1×10^-5	2 160	16.04	0.20
New mortar	840.2	0.931	1×10^-5	2 160	32.07	0.22
ITZ between old mortar and new mortar	840.2	0.931	1×10^-5	2 160	13.55	0.20
Old mortar	840.2	0.931	1×10^-5	2 160	18.43	0.22
ITZ between aggregate and old mortar	840.3	0.931	1×10^-5	2 160	11.06	0.20
Phase change aggregate	1 386.4	0.220	1×10^-5	1 480	15.80	0.25

Fig.3 Macroscopic morphology of prepared phase change aggregate

Fig.4 Damage contour plots and grayscale images of phase change concrete with a recycled aggregate replacement rate of 50% and a phase change material content of 4%

Fig.5 Temperature variation at different locations in concrete with a recycled aggregate replacement rate of 100%

Fig.6 Temperature variation at center point of phase change concrete over time

Fig.7 Temperature contour plots during cooling exothermic process of phase change concrete with a phase change material content of 8%

Fig.8 Temperature contour plots during heating endothermic process of phase change concrete with a phase change material content of 8%

Fig.9 Temperature variation at center point of phase change concrete versus phase change material content

Fig.10 Stress contour plots in concrete without phase change material

Fig.11 Stress contour plots in phase change concrete with a phase change material content of 8%

Fig.12 Stress contour plots of phase change concrete with a recycled aggregate replacement rate of 50% and a phase change material content of 8%

Fig.13 Damage contour plots of phase change concrete with a phase change material content of 8% at varying recycled aggregate replacement rate

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