Implications of spatial variability characterization in discrete particle models

Characterization of the inherent spatial variability of the mechanical properties of advanced composite materials as well as of standard concretes is among the primary concerns of the presented paper. In the context of discrete particle models the random field concept is frequently adopted in order to account for the fluctuations of material characteristics on scales independent of the geometrical characterization of the mesostructure as represented by particular particle configurations mimicking the aggregate placement. The specific goal of this paper is to introduce spatial variability into structural reliability by providing a sample reduction strategy for the discrete framework. Presented simulations of a classical experiment utilize the well-established Lattice Discrete Particle Model (LDPM) and demonstrate the general potential of the proposed strategy towards current state-of-the-art in stochastic mechanics and some relating open problems.

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