Approach to connecting non-matching meshes applied to concrete beams of different sizes in multiscale modeling

Resumo

This work contributes by presenting an alternative way for connecting non-matching meshes. It uses

coupling elements that do not add degrees of freedom to the problem. These coupling elements are used for con-
necting the mesoscale with the macroscale in concrete beams subjected to three-point bending tests in multiscale

modeling. The beams are of different sizes, so it is possible to analyze the quality of the coupling between meshes
with different ratios between the dimensions of their elements. The problem is solved using a geometrically exact

version of the Finite Element Method (FEM). At the mesoscale, a damage model allows representing the degra-
dation of concrete, including the formation of discrete cracks. The studies carried out showed that the coupling

elements used allow connecting meshes with different ratios between the sizes of the elements.