Microcrack development under sealed hydration as quantified by micro-computed tomography

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F68407700%3A21110%2F25%3A00385151" target="_blank" >RIV/68407700:21110/25:00385151 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-04361-0_13" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-04361-0_13</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-04361-0_13" target="_blank" >10.1007/978-3-032-04361-0_13</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Microcrack development under sealed hydration as quantified by micro-computed tomography

Original language description

Contractive chemical shrinkage of hydrating cement paste leads to microcracking due to aggregate restraint. This paper explores the role of sealed hydration kinetics on microcrack formation in cement mortars by means of 4D μ-CT technique with the resolution of 2.2 µm. The test used three binders; a finely-ground ordinary Portland cement (OPC) with Blaine fineness of 391 m2/kg, a coarsely-ground OPC from the same clinker with the fineness of 273 m2/kg, and an alkali-activated H-cement. The results show that microcracks exhibit characteristic width 5–15 µm and increase their occurrence between monitored time 2 and 4 weeks. The coarsely-ground OPC and H-cement exhibited comparable number of microcracks at 2 and 4 weeks while the finely-ground OPC exhibited more than twice the number of microcracks. Mesomechanical simulation performed on 2D images proves that high shrinkage rate induces more microcracks due to smaller stress relaxation. The paper demonstrated, both experimentally and numerically, that higher strength gain by accelerated hydration leads to higher internal microcracking, generally impairing durability by microcracks coalescence into visible cracks. In this regard, durable concrete shall be based on slow hydration or should incorporate alkali-activation processes to reduce microcracks.

Czech name

—

Czech description

—

Type

D - Article in proceedings

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

20101 - Civil engineering

Project

Result was created during the realization of more than one project. More information in the Projects tab.

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Article name in the collection

Proceedings of the 2nd International RILEM Conference on Early-Age and Long-Term Cracking in RC Structures (CRC 2025)

ISBN

978-3-032-04361-0

ISSN

2211-0844

e-ISSN

2211-0852

Number of pages

9

Pages from-to

143-151

Publisher name

Springer, Cham

Place of publication

—

Event location

Katowice

Event date

Sep 11, 2025

Type of event by nationality

WRD - Celosvětová akce

UT code for WoS article

001585611700013