Go back to Part I Chapter 6 Sec. (1) Go back to Table of Contents

Next: Introduction

DIGITAL SIMULATION OF THE AGGREGATE-CEMENT PASTE INTERFACIAL ZONE IN CONCRETE

Edward J. Garboczi and Dale P. Bentz
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Building Materials Division, 226/B348
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899

Abstract

Researchers using back-scattered scanning electron microscopy, along with quantitative image analysis techniques, have clearly demonstrated the existence of a highly porous interfacial region between aggregate particles and the cement paste matrix in ordinary portland cement concrete. This paper presents the results of a digital-image-based simulation model of this interfacial zone. A dissolution-diffusion-reaction-like cycle of hydrating cement particles is directly simulated using cement particles packed around a simple non-reactive aggregate particle. The model is two-dimensional, as we are comparing to experimental results obtained on two-dimensional images of polished sections. The qualitative features seen experimentally, such as large amounts of porosity and calcium hydroxide in the interfacial zone, are accurately reproduced. A new mechanism, one-sided growth, is proposed, along with the more usual particle-packing ideas, as an explanation of the origin of the characteristic features of the interfacial zone.

• Introduction
• Description of microstructure model
• Results and discussion
• Summary
• Acknowledgements
• References