A beam-network model for autoclaved aerated concrete and its use for the investigation of relationships between Young’s modulus and microstructure

The solid phase of autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) is approximated by an irregular spatial system of beams. These are obtained by means of the so-called “cherry-pit” model for the system of pores, which is a random system of partially interpenetrating spheres, and the corresponding radical tessellation. FE calculations using standard software yield the corresponding bulk Young’s moduli. This approach is applied to various model structures in order to study the influence of porosity and pore radii on Young’s modulus of AAC.