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Condensation and isothermal water transfer in cement mortar Part I — Pore size distribution, equilibrium water condensation and imbibition

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Abstract

The pore size distribution of cement mortar is studied in relation to water sorption experiments with the help of mercury intrusion and nitrogen sorption. The importance of adsorbed water is pointed out. Isothermal imbibition experiments at four temperatures are presented. The temperature-dependence of the mass transfer coefficients is compared to the one predicted by the classical model. Significant discrepancies are noticed.

On the basis of the knowledge of the pore structure, a modelisation of the transfer process at moderate water content is proposed. It particularly takes into account Knudsen's vapor diffusion and effects of the presence of a discontinuous capillary phase interacting with vapor diffusion.

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Abbreviations

D o :

coefficient of free diffusion of the water vapor in air

D r :

coefficient of diffusion of vapor in the presence of a solid matrix (see eq. 16)

D h v:

coefficient of pure vapor diffusion of the medium

D′ h v:

coefficient of vapor diffusion of the medium in the presence of a dis continuous capillary phase

D θ :

(with subscript L or V, or not) coefficient of mass transfer (see eq. 14)

e a :

thickness of the adsorbed layer

h :

relative humidity of the gaseous phase (h =pv/pvs =ϱv/ϱvs)

J :

(with subscript L or V, or not) mass flux

K L :

permeability (see Equation 11)

l m :

mean free path of water molecules in air

ln:

natural logarithm

log:

logarithm to the base ten

M :

molecular weight of water

p c :

capillary pressure

p v :

partial pressure of water vapor

pvs:

pressure of saturated water vapor

r :

radius of a cylindrical pore

R :

gas constant

ℛ:

radius of curvature of a capillary interface

S 0 :

total area of pores per unit volume

S(r) :

area of pores of radius larger thanr per unit volume

T :

temperature

t :

time

x :

distance from origin

γ, γ r :

shape factor of the capillary phase (of a class of pores)

δ r :

equivalent coefficient of diffusion of pores filled with capillary water (see eq. 18 and 19)

Δη r :

volumic fraction of a class of pores

η 0 :

total porosity

η(r) :

volume of pores of radius less thanr per unit volume

θ :

volumetric water content

μ :

dynamic viscosity of liquid water

v :

kinematic viscosity of water

ϱ V :

mass density of vapor

ϱ VS :

mass density of saturated water vapor

ϱ l :

mass density of liquid water

σ :

surface tension coefficient

τ :

tortuosity factor

Φ:

matric potential

L:

liquid

V:

vapor

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  1. Institut de Mécanique de Grenoble, LA CNRS No. 6, BP 53X F-38041, Grenoble, Cédex, France

    Jean-François Daian

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Daian, JF. Condensation and isothermal water transfer in cement mortar Part I — Pore size distribution, equilibrium water condensation and imbibition. Transp Porous Med 3, 563–589 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00959103

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00959103

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