Modelling elasticity of a hydrating cement paste

Title: Modelling elasticity of a hydrating cement paste
Author(s): J. Sanahuja, L. Dormieux, G. Chanvillard
Paper category : conference
Book title: International RILEM Symposium on Concrete Modelling - ConMod '08
Editor(s): E. Schlangen and G. De Schutter
Print-ISBN: 978-2-35158-060-8
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-076-9
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2008
Pages: 783 - 790
Total Pages: 8
Nb references: 20
Language: English

Abstract: Concrete is a complex multi-scale composite involving multi-physics processes. As it is the only evolving component of concrete, the cement paste has a major influence on the development of the mechanical properties of concrete at early age. This contribution focuses on the increase of the elastic properties of a cement paste during its hydration.
Upscalling techniques are able to predict the effective mechanical characteristics of materials from their microstructure. Numerous micro-to-macro models have been developed on metallic alloys, rocks, soils, and even biomaterials. These homogenization approaches are now more and more used in the field of building materials such as concrete (see, for example, [1] which addresses the shrinkage of concrete).
Due to its computational efficiency, the Eshelby-based homogenization theory for disordered media has been chosen to build a multi-scale model of cement paste. This clearly requires a microstructure model describing the most important patterns of the geometrical arrangement of the different phases. However, the exact spatial distribution of phases is not necessary. The model also needs as inputs the elementary elastic characteristics of the phases and their volume fractions. The latter can be computed by a hydration model presented in a joint paper [2].

Online publication: 2009-06-15
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00