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Characterization of saturated porous bodies

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Abstract

Measurement of the response of a saturated body to mechanical and thermal strains can be used to determine the permeability and viscoelastic properties of the body. For example, bending a saturated beam creates a pressure gradient in the pores, and as the liquid flows to equilibrate the pressure, the force required to sustain a fixed deflection decreases. Analysis of the kinetics of force relaxation yields the permeability, in addition to the elastic modulus of the body; if viscoelastic relaxation of the solid phase occurs, it can also be measured. This method permits measurement of very low permeabilities in minutes or hours, but it is useful only for structurally homogeneous materials (such as cement paste) that can be formed into slender beams. For concrete, it is more practical to find the permeability by analysis of thermal expansion kinetics. When a saturated body is heated, the liquid expands more than the solid, and the expansion of the liquid stretches the solid network like a spring; consequently, the apparent thermal expansion coefficient is high. During an isothermal hold, the solid phase squeezes the liquid out of the pores and the body contracts. Analysis of the kinetics of thermal dilatation yields the permeability of the body. Recent experiments reveal an anomalously high thermal expansion coefficient for the water confined in the small pores of cement paste.

Résumé

La mesure de la réponse d'un corps saturé à des déformations thermiques et mécaniques peut être utilisée pour déterminer la perméabilité et les propriétés viscoélastiques de ce corps. Par exemple, la flexion d'un barreau saturé crée un gradient de pression dans les pores, et à mesure que le liquide s'écoule pour équilibrer la pression, la force requise pour maintenir une déflexion imposée décroît. L'analyse de la cinétique de la force de relaxation fournit la perméabilité en plus du module d'élasticité du corps; l'éventuelle relaxation viscoélastique de la phase solide peut également être mesurée. Cette méthode permet des mesures de très basses perméabilités en quelques minutes ou quelques heures, mais elle n'est utile que pour des matériaux homogènes structurellement (tels que la pâte de ciment) et dont on peut constituer des barreaux souples. Pour le béton il est plus pratique de déterminer la perméabilité à partir de la cinétique de dilatation thermique. Quand un corps saturé est chauffé, le liquide se dilate plus que le solide et la dilatation du liquide étire le réseau solide comme un ressort, si bien que le coefficient de dilatation thermique est grand. Pendant un pallier isotherme, la phase solide presse le liquide hors des pores et le corps se contracte. L'analyse de la cinétique de dilatation thermique fournit la perméabilité du corps. Des expériences récentes montrent un coefficient de dilatation thermique anormalement élevé pour l'eau confinée dans les petits pores d'une pâte de ciment.

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  1. Dept. Civil and Env. Engineering, Princeton Materials Institute, Princeton University, Eng. Quad. E-319, 08544, Princeton, NJ, USA

    G. W. Scherer

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Editorial Note Prof. George W. Scherer is a RILEM Senior Member and a member of the Editorial Advisory Commitee ofConcrete Science and Engineering.

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Scherer, G.W. Characterization of saturated porous bodies. Mat. Struct. 37, 21–30 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02481624

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