Scaling the rock : a micromechanical model for the elastic properties of hydrated cement pastes

Cement is the most widely produced material worldwide. However, the understanding on how its nanoscale composition affect its microscale mechanical properties is limited. In this thesis, a micromechanical model for the purpose of cement hydration simulation was developed and tested using HYMOSTRUC3D hydration software and a micromechanical particle with interphase model developed by Deng and Van Vliet. It was then tested against empirical micro- and nanoindentation tests done on samples synthesized, cured, and prepared in situ. Preliminary mechanical calculations coupled with the hydration software show good agreement with experimental data. Additionally, predicted ranges of effective particle moduli values were found in nanoindentation testing. These observations support the validity of treating high density C-S-H as an interphase between low density C-S-H and clinker particles.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Materials Science and Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2011

Author dc:creator

• Estrada, Jonathan Bartholomew

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Krystyn J. Van Vliet.

• Materials Science and Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/101860

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/101860