Deterministic size effect in concrete structures with account for chemo-mechanical loading

•A framework for modeling of deterministic size effect in concrete structures is outlined.•Chemo-mechanical interaction and the post failure response (crack formation) are taken into account.•The mathematical formulation of the constitutive equations governing both the homogeneous and localized deformation is provided.•The first set of simulations deals with a deterministic assessment of the size effect in a series of three-point bending tests as well as compression tests.•For continuing ASR, it is shown that, by increasing the size of the structure, a spontaneous failure may occur under a sustained load.•It is clearly demonstrated that the size effect is associated with propagation of localized damage whose rate is controlled by a suitably defined ‘characteristic length’. The work presented here is focused on examining the size effect in concrete structures subjected to different loading conditions, which include a chemo-mechanical interaction. The study involves extensive three dimensional finite element simulations, which incorporate a constitutive law with embedded discontinuity for tracing the propagation of damage pattern. The analysis deals with various mechanical scenarios that incorporate both a cohesive and frictional damage mechanism, as well as the effects of degradation of concrete triggered by continuing alkali-silica reaction (ASR). In the latter case, a chemo-plasticity framework is employed. The first set of simulations provides a deterministic assessment of the size effect in a series of three-point bending tests as well as compression tests. For continuing ASR, it is demonstrated that, by increasing the size of the structure, a spontaneous failure may occur under a sustained load. The numerical examples given here clearly show that the size effect is associated with propagation of localized damage whose rate is controlled by a suitably defined ‘characteristic length’.