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Strength development in hardened cement paste: examination of some empirical equations

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Abstract

A number of empirical expressions are frequently used to describe or predict the strength of normal hardened cement paste. The more well-known expressions of Balshin, Hasselman and Ryshkewitch relate strength and porosity. The Bolomey formula relates strength and water/cement ratio. All these expressions are shown to be theoretically well justified. They are pore-specific versions of a more general expression presented in this paper. The Balshin expression is suggested to be in general the better strength-porosity relation. Bolomey’s formula is shown to be a logical numerical consequence of this statement. Parameters are given for both these relations which depend on degree of hydration. The Ryshkewitch expression applies strictly only at vanishing porosity. Low-porosity strengths are overestimated by the Ryshkewitch expression when calibrated (fitted) to experimental data at finite porosities.

Resume

On utilise souvent un certain nombre de formules empiriques pour décrire ou prédire la résistance de la pâte de ciment durci normale. Les formules les plus répandues de Balshin, Hasselman et Ryshkewitch établissent un rapport entre la résistance et la porosité, celle de Bolomey entre la résistance et le rapport eau/ciment. On montre que les formules présentent une bonne justification théorique.

Les expressions constituant une version spécifique d’une formule plus générale sont présentées ici. On suggère que la formule de Balshin donne en général la meilleure relation résistance-porosité. Il apparaît que la formule de Bolomey est une conséquence numérique logique de cette affirmation. On donne les paramètres pour des deux relations qui dépendent du degré d’hydratation. Les formules de Ryshkewitch s’appliquent uniquement au cas de la porosité tendant vers zéro. Les résistances à une porosité faible sont surestimées par la formule de Ryshkewitch quand on la compare aux données pour des porosités limitées.

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  1. Physics and Materials Division, Engineering Academy, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800, Lyngby, Denmark

    L. F. Nielsen

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Nielsen, L.F. Strength development in hardened cement paste: examination of some empirical equations. Materials and Structures 26, 255–260 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02472946

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