ESEM drying tests: microcracking initiation in thin cement paste due to early age drying

Authors: D. Jankovic
Paper category: conference
Book title: Concrete Durability and Service Life Planning – ConcreteLife’09
Editor(s): K. Kovler
Print ISBN: 978-2-35158-074-5
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-085-1
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2009
Pages: 507 – 514
Total Pages: 8
Language: English

Abstract: Scattered and discontinues microcracking as a subsequent side-effect of deformations due to early age drying, occurs in thin (approximately 1 mm thick) cement paste samples, when stepwise dried in ESEM. Microcracking of cement paste and restrains appear to be practically unavoidable. They are related to a phenomenon of interfaces (‘matrix’ and ‘inclusion’), which exists at every scale. The combined effects of sample age, curing conditions and w/c ratio, influence development of microstructure at an early age as well as appearance of microcracks and their width (0.1-2.5 µm). However, rapid change of environmental conditions in cycles of drying-wetting induces full fracture of thin cement paste samples, regardless of the mentioned effects.

Online publication: 2012-05-16
Publication Type: full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00