Modelling Cement Microstructure: Pixels, Particles, and Property Prediction.
Modelling Cement Microstructure: Pixels, Particles, and
Property Prediction.
(1143 K)
Bentz, D. P.
Materials and Structures, Vol. 32, 187-195, April 1999.
Keywords:
cements; cellular automata; cement paste; computer
models; image reconstruction; microstructural
development; percolation
Abstract:
During the past ten years, a comprehensive model for the
three-dimensional microstructural development of cement
paste during hydration has been developed and validated.
The model employs a number of computational and
analytical tools including cellular automata, digital
image processing and reconstruction, percolation theory,
and the maturity method. The model has been successfully
applied to predicting the percolation and diffusion
properties of cement pastes. Through a kinetics
calibration, the evolution of heat release, chemical
shrinkage, and compressive strength with time have been
predicted. The variation of curing temperature and
availability of external curing water can also be
simulated using the developed model. This paper reviews
the computational tools employed in the model,
summarizes the experimental and modelling approaches,
and presents representative predicted properties.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899