Prediction of the chloride diffusion coefficient of concrete

It has been experimentally verified that the structure of the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) in concrete differs from that of bulk cement paste. As such, concrete should be modeled as a three-phase material at a mesoscopic level. This paper presents a three-phase composite model for predicting the chloride diffusion coefficient of concrete. Taking the inclusion as aggregate and the matrix as cement paste, the composite circle model is established by adding an ITZ layer in between the inclusion and the matrix. Solving the asymmetrical problem analytically, a closed-form solution for the chloride diffusion coefficient of concrete is derived. After verifying this model with experimental results, the effects of the aggregate area fraction, the chloride diffusion coefficient of ITZ, the ITZ thickness, the maximum aggregate diameter and the aggregate gradation on the chloride diffusion coefficient of concrete are evaluated in a quantitative manner. It is found that the chloride diffusion coefficient of concrete decreases with the increase of the aggregate area fraction and the maximum aggregate diameter, but increases with the increase of the chloride diffusion coefficient and thickness of ITZ. It is also found that the aggregate gradation has a significant influence on the chloride diffusion coefficient of concrete.     

Influence of aggregate content on the percolated interfacial transition zone of cement‐based materials by using accelerated chloride migration test

Abstract

In this study, the effect of the aggregate content on the chloride migration coefficient at the percolated interfacial transition zone (ITZ) was studied in cement‐based materials. Specimens with three different water‐to‐cement ratios and five different aggregate volume fractions were used. The chloride migration coefficient was measured with the accelerated chloride migration test (ACMT). A three‐phase composite model was used to determine the approximate chloride migration coefficient at the percolated ITZ. The results showed that the approximate chloride migration coefficient at the percolated ITZ increased significantly as more rod‐shaped aggregate was used in the mortar.     

Influence of internal curing using lightweight aggregates on interfacial transition zone percolation and chloride ingress in mortars

The microstructure of the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between cement paste and aggregate depends strongly on the nature of the aggregate, specifically its porosity and water absorption. Lightweight aggregates (LWA) with a porous surface layer have been noted to produce a dense ITZ microstructure that is equivalent to that of the bulk cement paste, as opposed to the more porous ITZ regions that typically surround normal weight aggregates. This ITZ microstructure can have a large influence on diffusive transport into a concrete, especially if the individual ITZ regions are percolated (connected) across the three-dimensional microstructure. In this paper, the substitution of LWA sand for a portion of the normal weight sand to provide internal curing (IC) for a mortar is examined with respect to its influence on ITZ percolation and chloride ingress. Experimental measurements of chloride ion penetration depths are combined with computer modeling of the ITZ percolation and random walk diffusion simulations to determine the magnitude of the reduced diffusivity provided in a mortar with IC vs. one with only normal weight sand. In this study, for a mixture of sands that is 31% LWA and 69% normal weight sand by volume, the chloride ion diffusivity is estimated to be reduced by 25% or more, based on the measured penetration depths.     

再生骨料影响混凝土渗透性的数值模拟

出于环境保护及经济方面的考虑,再生骨料在混凝土生产中得到越来越多的应用。混凝土可认为是由天然或再生骨料、多孔基体和界面过渡区三相组成的复合材料。基于随机骨料结构生成算法,建立了三相混凝土数值模型并应用于气体渗透性的分析。对于混凝土二维数值模型的稳态渗透问题,应用有限单元法求解压力场,并基于压力-流量的宏观等效关系计算混凝土材料的总体渗透率。数值分析结果表明:1) 总体渗透率随过渡区厚度及其相对渗透率的增加而非线性地增长;2) 由于骨料的存在而导致的稀释效应及曲折度效应是影响混凝土总体渗透性的两个重要因素;3) 再生骨料渗透率对混凝土宏观渗透率的影响呈“S”形曲线的关系。出于控制回收骨料混凝土渗透性能的考虑,回收骨料的渗透率最好比砂浆基体的渗透率低一个数量级,同时回收骨料的掺量也需要合理选择确定。     

Effect of 95 °C temperature on the chloride-migration of concrete using electrical field

The effects of 95 °C temperature on the chloride migration (the non-steady-state migration coefficient and the steady-state migration coefficient) of concrete are investigated. The transport properties of control specimens (at room temperature) and heated specimens (at 95 °C temperature) are prepared and studied. In this study the electrochemical technique is applied to accelerate chloride ion migration in concrete to estimate the breakthrough time and the chloride flux. The non-steady-state chloride migration coefficient and the steady-state chloride migration coefficient of concrete are calculated from the modified Fick's second law based on measurements of the breakthrough time and the chloride flux. Sixteen mixes of concrete are tested in this study. The results show that the non-steady-state migration coefficient and the steady-state migration coefficient increase by about 3–11 times and by 3–7 times, respectively, when the temperature is raised from room temperature to 95 °C. It could be assumed that these results are due to the increased connectivity of pores resulting from the increased pores around the interface between aggregate and matrix. The probable increased connectivity of pores at the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) of the specimens could have a major influence on the chloride migration coefficients of concrete.     

Micromechanical investigation on size effect of tensile strength for recycled aggregate concrete using BFEM

In this paper, the validity and performance of base force element method (BFEM) based on potential energy principle was studied by some numerical examples. And the BFEM on damage mechanics is used to analyze the size effect on tensile strength for recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) at meso-level. The recycled aggregate concrete is taken as five-phase composites consisting of natural coarse aggregate, new mortar, new interfacial transition zone (ITZ), old mortar and old ITZ on meso-level. The random aggregate model is used to simulate the meso-structure of recycled aggregate concrete. The size effects of mechanical properties of RAC under uniaxial tensile loading are simulated using the BFEM on damage mechanics. The simulation results agree with the test results. This analysis method is the new way for investigating fracture mechanism and numerical simulation of mechanical properties for RAC.     

An n-layered spherical inclusion model for predicting the elastic moduli of concrete with inhomogeneous ITZ

An n-layered spherical inclusion model is presented in this paper for predicting the elastic moduli of concrete with inhomogeneous interfacial transition zone (ITZ). In this model, concrete is represented as a three-phase composite material, composed of the aggregate, bulk paste, and an inhomogeneous ITZ. An analytical solution for the ITZ volume fraction is derived for the general aggregate gradation. By constituting a semi-empirical initial cement gradient model, the local water/cement ratio, degree of hydration, and porosity at the ITZ are estimated. The inhomogeneous ITZ is then divided into a series of homogenous concentric shell elements of equal thickness. The elastic moduli of concrete are determined by solving the n-layered spherical inclusion problem. Finally, the validity of the model is verified with three independent sets of experimental data and the effects of the maximum aggregate diameter, aggregate gradation, and ITZ thickness on the Young’s modulus of concrete are evaluated in a quantitative manner. The paper concludes that the proposed n-layered spherical inclusion model can be used to predict the elastic moduli of concrete.     

混凝土杨氏模量预测的三相复合球模型

提出了混凝土杨氏模量预测的三相复合球模型。在细观水平上将混凝土看成是一种由分散相骨料、中间相界面和连续相水泥浆所组成的三相复合材料。应用混凝土细观结构模拟技术, 获得了任一级配骨料的界面体积分数。模拟结果表明, 李氏近似法高估了界面体积分数, 界面体积分数在很大程度上取决于界面厚度、最大骨料直径和骨料级配。引入三相复合球模型, 给出了混凝土杨氏模量的解析解。将解析解与实验结果进行比较, 证实了本文模型的有效性。数值结果也表明, 对于给定的骨料体积分数, 混凝土杨氏模量随着最大骨料直径和界面杨氏模量的增大而增大, 但随着界面厚度的增大而减小, 骨料级配对混凝土杨氏模量也有较大影响。     

Influence of cement type on ITZ porosity and chloride resistance of self-compacting concrete

With the increasing use of self-compacting concrete (SCC) its durability has come into focus. Concerning the microstructure of concrete, the porosity in the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) is regarded as a key feature for permeability and durability. Generally, a combination of cement and mineral admixtures is used for the production of SCC. In the present study, ITZ porosity of four SCC mixtures produced with ordinary Portland cement, Portland limestone cement, slag cement and ordinary Portland cement combined with fly ash is analyzed. Additionally, the chloride migration coefficient is determined. ITZ porosity and width of the SCC mixtures are similar. The substantial differences in the chloride migration coefficients show that the binder type has a stronger influence on permeability than the pore volume in the ITZ.     

The Effect of Initial Defects on Overall Mechanical Properties of Concrete Material

Considering the fact that the initial defects, like the imperfect interfacial transition zones (ITZ) and the micro voids in mortar matrix, weaken the mechanical properties of concrete, this study develops corresponding constitutive models for ITZ and matrix, and simulates the concrete failure with finite element methods. Specifically, an elastic-damage traction-separation model for ITZ is constructed, and an anisotropic plastic-damage model distinguishing the strength-difference under tension and compression for mortar matrix is proposed as well. In this anisotropic plastic-damage model, the weakening effect of micro voids is reflected by introducing initial isotropic damage, the distinct characteristic of tension and compression which described by decomposing damage tensor into tensile and compressive components, and the plastic yield surface which established on the effective stress space. Furthermore, by tracking the damage evolution of concrete specimens suffering uniaxial tension and compression, the effects of imperfect status of ITZ and volume fraction of initial voids on the concrete mechanical properties are investigated.     

Effect of carbonation of modeled recycled coarse aggregate on the mechanical properties of modeled recycled aggregate concrete

The modeled recycled aggregate concrete (MRAC) which is an idealized model for the real recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) was used in this study. The MRCAs prepared with two types of old mortars were modified by an accelerated carbonation process. The effects of carbonation of MRCA on the micro-hardness of MRCA and the mechanical properties of MRAC were investigated. The results indicated that the micro-hardness of the old interfacial transition zone (ITZ) and the old mortar in the carbonated MRCAs was higher than that in the uncarbonated MRCAs, and the enhancement of the old ITZ was more significant than that of the old mortar. The compressive strength and modulus of MRACs increased when the carbonated MRCAs were utilized, and the improvement was more significant for MRAC prepared with a higher w/c. In addition, a numerical study was carried out and it showed that the improvement in strength by carbonation treatment was less obvious when the difference between the new and old mortar was larger.     

考虑界面影响的混凝土弹性模量的数值预测

提出了一种考虑界面过渡层影响的混凝土弹性模量的数值预测方法。将球形骨料与包裹它的界面过渡层作为二相复合球结构的等效颗粒,由广义自洽方法计算不同粒径骨料与界面过渡层组成复合球的有效模量。然后由等效颗粒生成的随机骨料模型建立体积表征单元,施加均匀位移边界条件,通过数值方法计算该体积表征单元中的应力和应变场,由细观力学数值均匀化方法预测体积表征单元的有效弹性模量。计算结果表明:对于不同骨料含量的混凝土,有效弹性模量的预测值与试验值非常接近,界面过渡层的厚度对混凝土的整体弹性性质有较大影响。     

考虑不均匀界面时混凝土弹性模量预测

提出了考虑不均匀界面时混凝土弹性模量预测的解析法。根据界面层上水泥颗粒的分布特性, 给出了界面层上任一点处的局部水灰比和孔隙率。将不均匀界面层划分成一系列同心球壳单元, 通过反演方法确定了每个球壳单元和水泥石基体的弹性模量。将三相混凝土分解成一系列两相复合子结构, 应用两相复合球模型的正确解导出混凝土弹性模量。通过与文献中的两组实验结果比较验证了本文方法的有效性。数值结果表明, 对于给定的骨料体积分数, 混凝土弹性模量随着最大水泥颗粒直径和水灰比的增大而减小, 但随着最大骨料直径的增大而增大, 骨料级配对混凝土弹性模量也有一定的影响。      

低应力水平下混凝土中氯离子扩散行为多尺度分析方法

混凝土的扩散渗透性能与其微观结构（包括细观尺度上粗骨料颗粒与砂浆之间的界面过渡区及砂浆本身的微观结构等）密切相关。在微观尺度上,砂浆和界面过渡区均可视为由无孔砂浆基质和孔隙水夹杂相组成的两相复合材料,二者的主要区别表现为孔隙率不同。在外荷载作用下,砂浆和界面过渡区的毛细孔隙率及孔隙连通性会发生改变,从而改变混凝土的扩散渗透性能。基于此,该文建立了低应力水平下混凝土中氯离子扩散行为多尺度理论分析方法,获得了混凝土表观扩散系数与外荷载（以体应变表征）及砂浆和界面过渡区当前孔隙率的定量关系。分析所采用的主要参数为砂浆和界面过渡区的毛细孔隙率、无孔砂浆基质和骨料相的力学参数、骨料相和界面过渡区的体积分数、外荷载等。与已有文献数据对比知,该文分析结果与之吻合良好,表明了理论分析方法的合理性与准确性。此外,基于该方法,探讨分析了混凝土微/细观结构对其宏观扩散性能的影响。     

Crumb rubber aggregate coatings/pre-treatments and their effects on interfacial bonding, air entrapment and fracture toughness in self-compacting rubberised concrete (SCRC)

The interfacial-bonding, interfacial transition zone (ITZ), and porosity are regarded as the key factors affecting hardened concrete properties. The aim of this study was to experimentally improve the bonding between the rubber aggregate and cement paste by different methodologies including water washing, Na(OH) pre-treatment, and both cement paste and mortar pre-coating. All methods were assessed by determining mechanical and dynamic properties, then correlating this with ITZ porosity and interfacial gap void geometry, along with quantification of the fracture energy during micro crack propagation using fractal analysis. The results indicated that pre-coating the rubber by mortar gave the best results in terms of fracture toughness and energy absorption showing good agreement between observations made at both micro and macro scales.     

骨料级配对二维模型混凝土单轴抗拉强度影响的理论研究

混凝土尺寸效应及其宏观力学非线性根源于其材料细观组成的非均质性。结合混凝土细观结构形式,将混凝土看作由骨料颗粒、砂浆基质及界面过渡区组成的复合材料。采用双线性弹性损伤模型来描述砂浆基质及界面过渡区的力学行为,假定骨料颗粒为弹性体而不发生破坏,进而推导并获得了单轴拉伸条件下不同骨料颗粒级配混凝土断裂裂缝扩展路径长度及其抗拉强度的理论解。最后,对比了建立的理论公式结果与细观尺度数值模拟结果,验证了构建的关于裂缝长度及抗拉强度理论解的准确性和合理性。     

粗骨料种类对刚性弹贯穿混凝土靶剩余速度的影响

针对弹体贯穿混凝土靶问题,混凝土细观尺度模型能够反映混凝土中各介质对混凝土力学行为的影响。本研究编写了三维随机球形粗骨料的生成和投放程序,并采用一种基于背景网格的材料识别技术建立了含有水泥砂浆和粗骨料两种网格的三维混凝土细观有限元模型,同时将界面过渡区简化为这两种网格之间的一种可失效的接触。基于这一模型,运用连续有限元软件对刚性弹贯穿混凝土过程进行了数值仿真,并分析了三个不同种类的粗骨料对剩余速度的影响。结果表明,粗骨料的强度和密度分别在较低和较高的着靶速度下对剩余速度有一定影响。     

核电厂预应力混凝土安全壳中氯离子扩散系数的预测方法EI北大核心CSCD

氯离子扩散系数是评价沿海环境中核电厂预应力混凝土安全壳耐久性的重要参数。该文基于两尺度方法,通过分析双轴等压下水泥浆基体、界面和混凝土细观结构,建立了水泥浆基体和界面毛细孔隙率与预应力之间的定量关系。为了量化预应力对微裂纹闭合、产生和扩展的影响,提出了临界毛细孔隙率与预应力之间的经验公式。将混凝土模拟成由骨料、界面和水泥浆基体组成的三相复合材料,获得预应力混凝土氯离子扩散系数比。通过与试验结果比较,校正了经验公式中的两个参数。用三组试验数据初步验证了该预测方法的有效性。     

混凝土单轴抗压强度三维细观数值仿真

该文在细观层面上将混凝土看作粗骨料、砂浆、界面、初始缺陷组成的四相复合材料, 给出了三维随机缺陷界面弹簧元模型模拟混凝土单轴抗压强度的数值方法。讨论了初始缺陷含量及其分布的确定方法以及界面细观计算参数的取值范围。数值模拟结果表明:混凝土的抗压强度随着初始缺陷含量的增加有大幅度降低;当界面初始缺陷含量为30%时, 混凝土抗压强度的计算值与试验值吻合较好。     

Interfacial transition zone of cement composites with steel furnace slag aggregates

As previous studies of mortar and concrete with steel furnace slag (SFS) aggregates have shown increases or decreases in the bulk mechanical properties, this study investigated the microstructural cause of these opposing trends through characterization of the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) with quantitative image analysis of backscatter electron micrographs. Three SFS types – basic oxygen furnace (BOF), electric arc furnace (EAF), EAF/ladle metallurgy furnace (EAF/LMF) – were examined as aggregates in a portland cement mortar. The ITZ size for all SFS mortar mixtures was similar, with the ITZ of BOF and EAF/LMF being slightly more porous than mortar mixtures with EAF or dolomite. Microstructural examinations of the SFS particle revealed that BOF and EAF/LMF aggregates have different outer and interior compositions, with the outer composition consisting of a porous layer, which likely contributes to the reduced strength relative to EAF. The imaging results demonstrated that the type of SFS and its spatial composition greatly influences the bulk properties of mortar and concrete, mainly as a function of porosity content in the ITZ and the outer layer and interior porosity of the SFS aggregate.