Effects of Cement Particle Size Distribution on Performance Properties of Portland Cement-Based Materials.
Effects of Cement Particle Size Distribution on
Performance Properties of Portland Cement-Based
Materials.
(986 K)
Bentz, D. P.; Garboczi, E. J.; Haecker, C. J.; Jensen,
O. M.
Cement and Concrete Research, Vol. 29, No. 10,
1663-1671, October 1999.
Keywords:
portland cement; particle size distribution; performance
properties; diffusivity; high performance concrete; heat
of hydration; interfacial transition zone;
microstructure; percolation
Abstract:
The original size, spatial distribution, and composition
of Portland cement particles have a large influence on
hydration kinetics, microstructure development, and
ultimate properties of cement-based materials. In this
paper, the effccts of cement particlc size distribution
on a variety of performance propertics are explored via
computer simulation and a few experimental studies.
Properties examined include setting time, heat release,
capillary porosity percolation, diffusivity, chemical
shrinkage, autogenous shrinkage, internal relative
humidity evolution, and interfacial transition zone
microstructure. The effects of flocculation and
dispersion of the cement particles in the starting
microstructurcs on resultant properties arc also briefly
evaluated. The computer simulations are conducted using
two cement particlc size distrihutions that bound those
commonly in use today and three different
water-to-cement ratios: 0.5, 0.3, and 0.246. For lower
water-to-cement ratio systems, the use of coarser
cements may offer equivalent or superior performance, as
well as reducing production costs for the manufacture.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899