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The Microstructure of Portland Cement-Based Materials: Computer Simulation and Percolation Theory

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2011

Edward J. Garboczi
Affiliation:
National Institute of Standards and Technology 226/B350 Gaithersburg, MD 20899
Dale P. Bentz
Affiliation:
National Institute of Standards and Technology 226/B350 Gaithersburg, MD 20899
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Abstract

Portland cement-based materials are usually composites, where the matrix consists of portland cement paste. Cement paste is a material formed from the hydration reaction of portland cement, usually a calcium silicate material, with water. The microstructure of cement paste changes drastically over a time period of about one week, with slower changes occurring over subsequent weeks to months. The effect of this hydration process on the changing microstructure can be represented using computer simulation techniques applied to three dimensional digital image-based models. Percolation theory can be used to understand the evolving microstructure in terms of the three percolation thresholds that are of importance in the cement paste microstructure: the set point, capillary porosity percolation, and the percolation of the C-S-H phase.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1998

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