Concrete　cover　cracking　induced　by　corrosion　of　steel　reinforcement　is　a　major　influencing　factor　for　durability　and　serviceability　of　reinforced　concrete　structures.　Here　in　this　study,　the　influence　of　concrete　meso-structure　on　the　failure　pattern　of　concrete　cover　is　accounted　for.　The　concrete　is　assumed　to　be　a　three-phase　composite　composed　of　aggregate,　mortar　matrix　and　the　interfacial　transition　zone　(ITZ).　And　a　concrete　random　aggregate　structure　is　established　for　the　study　on　the　mechanical　behavior　of　radial　corrosion　expansion.　In　the　present　simulations,　the　plasticity　damaged　model　is　used　to　describe　the　mechanical　behavior　of　the　mortar　matrix　and　the　ITZ,　and　it　is　assumed　that　the　corrosion　of　steel　reinforcement　is　uniform.　The　cracking　of　concrete　cover　due　to　steel　reinforcement　corrosion　is　numerically　simulated.　The　simulation　results　have　a　good　agreement　with　the　available　test　data　and　they　are　between　the　two　analytical　results.　The　failure　patterns　obtained　from　the　macro-scale　homogeneous　model　and　the　mesoscale　heterogeneous　model　are　compared.　Furthermore,　the　influences　of　ratio　of　cover　thickness　and　reinforcement　diameter　(i.e.　c/d),　the　location　of　the　steel　reinforcement　(i.e.,　placed　at　the　middle　and　corner　zones)　and　the　concrete　tensile　strength　on　the　steel　corrosion　rate　when　the　concrete　cover　cracks　are　investigated.　Finally,　some　useful　conclusions　are　drawn.　(C)　2014　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.