Realistic　three-scale　simulation　by　DEM　of　particulate　materials　like　concrete　is　nowadays　possible　by　fast　developments　in　computer　technology.　This　would　be　an　attractive　alternative　for　systematic　physical　experimenting　that　is　more　time-consuming,　labour-intensive　and　thus　expensive.　The　paper　discusses　the　simulation　on　meso-level　of　the　aggregate　structure　and　on　micro-level　of　the　fresh　binder　material　that　is　enclosed　by　aggregate　grains.　In　the　latter　case,　it　will　be　followed　by　hydration　simulation　to　obtain　the　matured　material.　This　can　be　expanded　to　involve　particle　packing　of　the　C-S-H　on　nano-level,　completing　the　three-scale　approach.　For　assessment　of　mechanical　properties,　packing　density　is　a　crucial　issue　that　can　be　straightforwardly　studied.　A　subject　of　major　engineering　relevance　is　porosity　because　of　durability　issues.　This　requires　techniques　for　delineating　the　capillary　pore　network　structure　to　be　able　assessing　its　topological　and　geometric　properties.　By　combining　such　features　with　hydraulic　properties　in　a　so　called　tube　network　model,　basically　transport　properties　of　concrete　can　be　estimated　that　are　underlying　long-term　strength　issues.　Influences　of　technological　parameters　on　packing　characteristics　are　of　interest　for　optimising　packing,　strength　and　durability　of　cementitious　composites.　The　paper　will　offer　the　main　lines　of　a　complete　methodology　involving　a　modern　three-scale　analogue　DEM　approach,　hydration　simulation,　and　pore　delineation　and　measuring.　Intension　is　not　to　discuss　separate　＂building　blocks＂　of　the　methodology,　because　they　have　been　presented,　discussed　and　validated　earlier　in　publications.　Additionally,　typical　capabilities　of　the　methodology　will　be　indicated.　To　do　so,　results　will　be　presented　for　illustrative　purposes　on　the　shape　issue　involved　in　aggregate　packing,　on　the　positive　effects　of　cement　blending　by　fine-grained　rice　husk　ash　on　pore　characteristics　and　resulting　permeability,　and　on　permeability　estimation　in　the　practical　case　of　pores　containing　capillary　water.　(C)　2015　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.