Mechanical properties of cement pastes: microstructure, variability and probabilistic analysis

• Grant number: 18/07623-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2018
• End date: April 30, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Civil Engineering - Construction Industry
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Sérgio Cirelli Angulo
• Grantee: Fábio Cabral de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Hydrated cement pastes are porous solid materials whose mechanical properties are strongly influenced by its porous structure. During the preparation of cement pastes, flaws (such as small pores and cracks) may be introduced, causing a drastic reduction in the mechanical strength. Therefore, the mechanical performance of these materials depends on the probability of these flaws to occur, which causes a great dispersion in the data obtained from mechanical characterization. Knowing variability is crucial to determine characteristic values, important parameters for structural use of cementitious materials. In this context, the present paper aims to evaluate the variability of tensile strength and elastic modulus of cement pastes based on its pore structure. The cement pastes will be produced varying their dosage factors: water-cement ratio, water-reducing admixture content and mineral addition content. They will be rheologically, physically (mercury intrusion porosimetry and microtomography) and mechanically (PLT-LVDT, an experimental technique developed by the research group which this work is part of) characterized. The variability of the mechanical properties will be evaluated through a statistical and probabilistic analysis using the Weibull distribution. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

OLIVEIRA, FABIO C.; KASSAB, MARCOS P.; SILVA, V, NATALIA; ANGULO, SERGIO C.; TAVARES, LUIS MARCELO; LANGE, DAVID A.. Probabilistic functions of mechanical properties of plain cement pastes determined by a reduced-size test. CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS, v. 286, JUN 7 2021. (16/20420-2, 18/07623-7, 18/07423-8, 14/50948-3)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

OLIVEIRA, Fábio Cabral de. Mechanical properties of cement pastes: microstrucutre, variability and probabilistic analysis.. 2020. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Politécnica (EP/BC) São Paulo.