Using X-ray tomography to image cracks in cement paste

Author(s): F. Paradis, J. Weiss
Paper category: Workshop
Book title: Fifth International RILEM Workshop on High Performance Fiber Reinforced Cement Composites (HPFRCC5)
Editor(s): H.W. Reinhardt, A.E. Naaman
ISBN: 978-2-35158-046-2
Pages: 379 - 386
Total Pages: 8
Language: English

Abstract: 
The durability of a concrete structure is related to its ability to impede, or greatly reduce, the rate of fluid transport. A great deal of research has been performed to assess the durability of concrete structures. However, the majority of previous research has focused on undamaged concrete, and comparatively little work has been performed to quantitatively describe how these transport properties change in the presence of damage or sustained loading, which frequently occur in the field. Describing the effects of cracking can be complicated as the morphology of the cracks is difficult to fully characterize. This paper describes an investigation to determine crack size and crack morphology using three-dimensional x-ray tomography. Fiber reinforcement has the potential to substantially change the nature of the cracks that form. As a result, fiber reinforcement can alter the rate of fluid transport and thereby substantially improve durability if the fiber reinforcement changes the morphology of the cracks.

Online publication: 2014
Publication Type: full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00