Modeling the Influence of the Interfacial Zone on the DC Electrical Conductivity of Mortar.
Modeling the Influence of the Interfacial Zone on the DC
Electrical Conductivity of Mortar.
(1542 K)
Garboczi, E. J.; Schwartz, L. M.; Bentz, D. P.
Advanced Cement Based Materials, Vol. 2, 169-181, 1995.
Keywords:
aggregates; building technology; concretes; electrical
conductivity; interfacial zone; model; percolation;
permeability
Abstract:
The interfacial zone separating cement paste and
aggregate in mortar and concrete is believed to
influence many of the properties of these composites.
The available experimental evidence, obtained on
artificial geometries, indicates that the DC electrical
conductivity of the interfacial zone, because of its
higher porosity, may be considerably larger than that of
the bulk cement paste matrix. This paper presents the
theoretical framework for quantitatively understanding
the influence of the interfacial zone on the overall
electrical conductivity of mortar, based on realistic
random aggregate geometries. This understanding is also
used, via an electrical analogy with Darcy's law, to
make predictions about the effect of the interfacial
zone on fluid permeability. The results obtained for
mortar should also pertain to concrete.
