Microstructure as a critical factor of cement mortars' behaviour: The effect of aggregates' properties

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2020

Authors

Santos, AR (Author) Other; Veiga, MD (Author) Other; Silva, AS (Author) Other; de Brito, J (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Cement and Concrete Composites

Vol. 111

ISSN: 0958-9465

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 4 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00S-1H3

DOI: 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2020.103628

Abstract (EN): The purpose of this work is to assess the influence of the aggregates' properties on the hygric and mechanical behaviour of Portland cement mortars. This assessment allows the establishment of a close relationship between the mortars' performance and its pore size distribution, which is very sensitive to the aggregates' characteristics: It was found that the grain size distribution is the dominant parameter influencing the pore size distribution of the coarse porosity of Portland cement mortars, while the mineralogy and its potential reactivity characteristics have an important role on the volume of the coarse and gel porosity. The main outcome shows a remarkable increase of mechanical strength in mortars with low volume and diameter pore size in the coarse porosity. Moreover, a high average of connected large capillary diameter pores is, in general, associated with an increase of the water flow.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11