Three-dimensional microstructure analysis of numerically simulated cementitious materials

In order to predict the transport properties of porous media, such as permeability and electrical conductivity of cementitious materials, a better understanding of the microstructural characteristics, including the geometrical and topological properties, is required. In this contribution, the microstructure of cementitious materials is simulated by using the cement hydration model HYMOSTRUC. In this computer-based numerical model, the hydrating cement grains are modeled as gradually growing spheres, which become in contact while growing. The simulated porous medium can be described as a series of sections taken from three orthogonal directions, in which each unit (pixel) is filled either with a solid or a fluid phase (pores). Various algorithms based on a random walk process are utilized to determine the local geometrical information, such as gravity center's coordinate, perimeter and area of each individual pore. The percolating path of the fluid in three dimensions is traced by using an overlap algorithm. Both three-dimensional (3D) geometrical information and topological space characterization including branch node network and genus of the pores are derived. Calculation results of these algorithms are compared with results obtained by other microstructural models at various degree of hydration.