Realistic Pore Structure of Portland Cement Paste: Experimental Study and Numerical Simulation

Abstract

In this study, the pore structure of Portland cement paste is experimentally characterized by MIP (mercury intrusion porosimetry) and nitrogen adsorption, and simulated by a newly developed status-oriented computer model. Cement pastes with w/c=0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 at ages from 1 day to 120 days are comprehensively investigated. It is found that MIP cannot generate valid pore size distribution curves for cement paste. Nevertheless, nitrogen adsorption can give much more realistic pore size distribution curves of small capillary pores, and these curves follow the same distribution mode. While, large capillary pores can be effectively characterized by the newly developed computer model, and the validity of this model has been proved by BSE imaging plus image analysis. Based on the experimental findings and numerical simulation, a hypothesis is proposed to explain the formation mechanism of the capillary pore system, and the realistic representation of the pore structure of hydrated cement paste is established.

Department(s)

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

Adsorption; Cements; Gas Adsorption; Mercury (metal); Nitrogen; Numerical Models; Pore Structure; Portland Cement; Size Distribution; Cement Paste; Computer Modeling; Distribution Modes; Formation Mechanism; Hydrated Cement Pastes; Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry; Nitrogen Adsorption; Portland Cement Paste; Pore Size; MIP

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

1598-8198

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2013 Techno Press, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Apr 2013

Link to Full Text

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