Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 February 2011
Mechanical properties of any material, including hardened cement paste, are assumed to be controlled by its microstructure. An attempt has been made here to establish a link between bulk fracture parameters of hardened cement paste and its microstructure. Paste microstructure has been varied by changing the initial w/c ratio, curing time and curing temperature, and by addition of chemicals to change the calcium hydroxide morphology. It has been found that, like compressive strength, fracture parameters depend directly on porosity. Contrary to our initial hypothesis, CH morphology was found to have no effect on the fracture parameters.