Volume 38, Number 4, 459-466, DOI: 10.1007/BF02482142

Simulation of cement paste microstructure hydration, pore space characterization and permeability determination

C. Pignat, P. Navi and K. Scrivener

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Abstract

An Integrated Particle Kinetics Model (IPKM) to simulate the evolution of cement microstructure during hydration is presented. The advantages of the model are that the space is not divided into discrete pixels, so there is no lower resolution on the size of feature which can be represented and that the kinetics of hydration are an integral part of the microstructure formation. One method to describe the resulting pore structure is as a network of cylindrical tubes. This transformation is analytical, which allows a wide range of pore sizes to be described without resolution limit. From this representation the water permeability can be determined by applying Darcy and Poiseulle laws. The numerical results obtained are compared with experimental data.
Un modèle intégré basé sur les cinétiques d'hydratation des particules pour simuler l'évolution de la microstructure du ciment lors de l'hydratation est présenté. L'espace poreux capillaire est caractérisé par transformation en un réseau de tubes cylindriques. Cette transformation est analytique, ce qui permet de décrire une large gamme de tailles de pores sans limite de résolution. La perméabilité à l'eau est déterminée en appliquant les lois de Darcy et de Poiseuille. Les résultats numériques sont comparés avec des données expérimentales.

Editorial Note EPFL (Switzerland) is a RILEM Titular Member. Prof. Karen Scrivener is a RILEM Senior Member. She participates in RILEM TCs 197-NCM ‘Nanotechnology in construction materials’, 199-CUA ‘Concrete: use of additions’ and DSC ‘Durability of self-compacting concrete’. Dr. Parviz Navi participates in RILEM TC MCW ‘Modelling of crack initiation and propagation in wood under varying ambient conditions’,.

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