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Influence of the Aggregate–Cement Ratio on the Electrical and Transport Properties of Cement Mortars

  • Research Article - Civil Engineering
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Abstract

This paper summarizes the results of a research that has been carried out aiming to assess the effects of the cement paste content on the transport and electrical properties of mortars using the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) method. Six mortar samples using different proportions of aggregate (different cement paste fractions) and a constant size of aggregate were used. The microstructure transport properties were investigated using the EIS method and an equivalent circuit model, which allowed determining effectively the physical behaviour of conductive and non-conductive pores. Some other experiments, such as the compressive strength and rapid chloride penetrability tests, were also carried out. Results showed proper relationships between the pore microstructure and the electrical conductivity of mortar samples, explaining some complex relationships among them. Additionally, relationships between transport properties and the volumetric fraction of cement paste were also identified.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Civil Engineering Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia

    Juan Lizarazo-Marriaga, Sergio Ramírez & Leonardo Fonseca

Authors
  1. Juan Lizarazo-Marriaga
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  2. Sergio Ramírez
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  3. Leonardo Fonseca
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Correspondence to Juan Lizarazo-Marriaga.

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Lizarazo-Marriaga, J., Ramírez, S. & Fonseca, L. Influence of the Aggregate–Cement Ratio on the Electrical and Transport Properties of Cement Mortars. Arab J Sci Eng 41, 4901–4909 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-016-2213-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-016-2213-4

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