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Discrete Model for the Structure and Strength of Cementitious Materials

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Abstract

Cementitious materials are characterized by brittle behavior in direct tension and by transverse dilatation (due to microcracking) under compression. Microcracking causes increasingly larger transverse strains and a phenomenological Poisson’s ratio that gradually increases to about \(\nu =0.5\) and beyond, at the limit point in compression. This behavior is due to the underlying structure of cementitious pastes which is simulated here with a discrete physical model. The computational model is generic, assembled from a statistically generated, continuous network of flaky dendrites consisting of cement hydrates that emanate from partially hydrated cement grains. In the actual amorphous material, the dendrites constitute the solid phase of the cement gel and interconnect to provide the strength and stiffness against load. The idealized dendrite solid is loaded in compression and tension to compute values for strength and Poisson’s effects. Parametric studies are conducted, to calibrate the statistical parameters of the discrete model with the physical and mechanical characteristics of the material, so that the familiar experimental trends may be reproduced. The model provides a framework for the study of the mechanical behavior of the material under various states of stress and strain and can be used to model the effects of additives (e.g., fibers) that may be explicitly simulated in the discrete structure.

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Acknowledgements

This research has been co-financed by the European Union’s Social Fund—ESF, and Greek National Funds through the Operational Program: "Education & Lifelong Learning" of the National Strategic Reference Framework’s Research Funding Program: “Thales—Democritus University of Thrace—Center for Multifunctional Nanocomposite Construction Materials” (MIS 379496). There are no conflicts of interest with any parties.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Civil Engineering Department, Democritus University of Thrace, 67100, Xanthi, Greece

    Victor D. Balopoulos

  2. Electrical Engineering Department, Democritus University of Thrace, Xanthi, 67199, Greece

    Nikolaos Archontas

  3. Civil Engineering Department, The Lassonde Faculty of Engineering, York University, 4700 Keele Street, 335C Bergeron Center of Engineering Excellence, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada

    Stavroula J. Pantazopoulou

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  1. Victor D. Balopoulos
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  2. Nikolaos Archontas
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Correspondence to Stavroula J. Pantazopoulou.

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Balopoulos, V.D., Archontas, N. & Pantazopoulou, S.J. Discrete Model for the Structure and Strength of Cementitious Materials. Comp. Part. Mech. 5, 423–442 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40571-017-0177-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40571-017-0177-0

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