Applications that require a correction before the maturity concept is applied

Title: Applications that require a correction before the maturity concept is applied
Author(s): G. Sant, J. Weiss
Paper category : conference
Book title: International Conference on Microstructure Related Durability of Cementitious Composites
Editor(s): W. Sun, K. van Breugel, C. Miao, G. Ye and H. Chen
Print-ISBN: 978-2-35158-065-3
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-084-4
Publisher: RILEM Publications
Publication year: 2008
Pages: 765 - 774
Total Pages: 10
Nb references: 32
Language: English

Abstract: Many material properties in cementitious systems develop over time. The rate of this property development depends on the temperature of the system. Researchers in the 1950s promoted the use of a ‘maturity index’ that could account for the combined effects of time and temperature on property development. Over the last five decades, the concrete community has extensively used maturity methods to predict strength development. While the maturity method has great practical importance, this paper examines the applicability of the maturity method in several cases. The authors suggest that, although measured properties can be fitted to equations that have the form of a maturity function, fundamental aspects of the maturity method or measured property are frequently overlooked when this is done. Specifically, this paper discusses three applications that require additional interpretation before the maturity method can be applied. These applications include: 1) application to a composite material where the mode of failure changes as constituent materials develop at different rates, 2) application to electrical property measurements which require a temperature correction before the maturity method is applied, and 3) application to system responses (rather than material properties) where time-dependent material responses need to be considered (e.g., varying restraint or viscoelasticity). The results indicate that in cases where proper corrections are applied a consistent activation energy can be used in prediction of material property development. This has specific implications for computer simulations which aim to predict field concrete performance.

Online publication: 2009-06-09
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00