Abstract
The engineering properties of hardening concrete depend on the microstructure of the cementitious material, and thus on the amount of hydration products formed. A determining measure for the amount of hydration products is the amount of reacted cement, which can be described by means of the degree of hydration. An extended experimental program was carried out in order to verify the influence of the degree of hydration on the engineering properties of hardening concrete. The instantanecous and time dependent mechanical behaviour was investigated experimentally on hardening concrete with different compositions. Portland cement as well as blast furnace slag cement were considered. Furthermore, the fracture energy of hardening concrete was investigated, using a deformation controlled three-point bending test. It was concluded that the degree of hydration is a fundamental parameter for the description of hardening concrete, including time-dependent mechanical behaviours and fracture properties. Based on the experimental results and on a phenomenological view of hydration, engineering models were developed, enabling an accurate simulation of the behaviour of early-age concrete (i.e. first 28 days).
Résumé
Les propriétés mécaniques du béton en cours de durcissement dépendent de la microstructure du ciment qui le compose, ainsi que de la quantité de ciment hydraté qui a été formée. Un des facteurs déterminants, en ce qui concerne la quantité de ciment hydraté, est la quantité de ciment qui a réagi, et qui peut être traduite par le degré d'hydratation. Un programme expérimental exhaustif a été mené afin de vérifier l'influence du degré d'hydratation sur les propriétés mécaniques des bétons en cours de durcissement. Les comportements mécaniques instantanés et dans le temps ont fait l'objet d'études expérimentales et ce, pour des bétons de différentes compositions. Ces études ont pris en compte aussi bien le ciment Portland que le ciment de haut fourneau. En outre, l'énergie de fissuration du béton en phase de durcissement a été étudiée au moyen de tests de flexion en trois points, avec maîtrise des déformations. La conclusion que l'on a pu tirer de ces études est que le degré d'hydratation est un paramètre fondamental pour la description des bétons en cours de durcissement, paramètre auquel il faut ajouter les comportements mécaniques dans le temps, ainsi que les propriétés à la rupture. Des modèles ont été développés à partir des résultats expérimentaux et des observations phénoménologiques de l'hydratation; ces modèles permettent de simuler précisément le comportement du béton au jeune âge (c'est-à-dire lors des 28 premiers jours).
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Editorial note Prof. Dr. Geert De Schutter is a RILEM Senior Member. He participates in the work of RILEM TC 181-EAS “Early age shrinkage induced stresses and cracking in cementitious systems”. He was also awarded the 2001 Robert L'Hermite Medal.
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De Schutter, G. Influence of hydration reaction on engineering properties of hardening concrete. Mat. Struct. 35, 447–452 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02483131
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02483131